A late red card to Senegal and a 90th-minute strike by Gift Leremi propelled South Africa’s Under-23 soccer team to a hard-fought 1-0 win at the Katlehong Stadium on Monday afternoon.
The teams were locked 0-0 at the break after a bruising opening 45 minutes with neither side backing down.
The result is a welcome one following AmaGlug-Glug’s failure to beat a young under-19 Chinese outfit in their opening match on Sunday at Orlando Stadium that finished 1-1.
It was a win their loyal fans deserved after bracing the constant drizzling rain as the team grabbed the three points on offer in the dying moments.
The first half was a dull affair as the Senegalese resorted to rough play in an attempt to ruffle their hosts. It forced South Africa to use short passes, which failed to see the game open up in the first 45 minutes.
In the second period, Steve Khompela’s charges started to take control and threatened the Senegal goal mouth on several occasions, forcing the goalkeeper to make numerous saves.
As the clock was winding down, it seemed a mostly lifeless encounter would finish all square.
Zambian referee Wilson Mpanisi, though, had other ideas and flashed a red card to Senegal’s Moustapha Bayal Sall in the 88th minute, for unsporting behaviour.
But as it seemed time had run out for either team to force a positive result, Orlando Pirates midfielder Leremi pounced and struck a cracking shot from outside the box, beating a despairing defence in the final minute for an unlikely win.
In other matches played on Wednesday, Mozambique and Zimbabwe played to a 1-1 draw at the Mohlakeng Stadium in Randfontein.
Mozambique’s Mantshinhe Miduel opened the scoring, taking his side to a 1-0 lead at half-time. However, Zimbabwe struck back in the second half courtesy of a goal by Simbarashe Gate.
Côte d’Ivoire, meanwhile, got off to a winning start, defeating Ghana 1-0, also at Mohlakeng Stadium. The Ivorians led 1-0 at the interval thanks to a strike by Kone Koro issa Hamed.
Ghana pressed for the equaliser in the second stanza, but failed to breach the stoic Côte d’Ivoire defence.
In the day’s late match, China beat Lesotho 2-1 after leading 2-0 at half-time. First-half goals from Dai Lin (28th minute) and Yu Hai (40th minute) were enough to see off Lesotho, who replied from the penalty spot through Tefo Maipato in referee’s optional time. — Sapa