/ 18 November 2010

US sink Bafana

Us Sink Bafana

A goal, five minutes from time and against the run of play, earned the United States a 1-0 win over hard working Bafana Bafana in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.

The only goal of the match was scored by 17-year-old US substitute Juan Agudelo, on his debut, in the 85th minute.

It was Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane’s first defeat in four matches in charge and the first time his side had conceded a goal, since he replaced former coach Carlos Alberto Parreira after the World Cup in August.

The countries met for the third time and Bafana have yet to score a goal against the US.

There was no justice, however, for the home side. Bafana outplayed the experimental US side, ranked 25th in the world, for most of the match and even a draw looked to be generous to the visitors who were on the back foot for most of this game.

Bafana, roared on by a capacity 50 000 crowd, kept the US under pressure but could not find a way through the well marshalled defence in an entertaining first 45 minutes.

The US showed tremendous discipline and professionalism, though, to weather the storm and sneak home with a trophy.

New captain
Bafana’s new captain Steven Pienaar led from the front but ran himself into the ground and was replaced by youngster Daylon Claasen in the 78th minute.

South Africa’s debutant David Somma, despite not scoring, almost had an immediate impact when he was denied a penalty by Kenyan referee Sylvester Kirwa in the 10th minute.

Brad Guzan showed his courage when he bravely dived at Bafana striker Bernard Parker to prevent the striker from getting a shot on goal in the 20th minute.

While Bafana were piling on the pressure, the visitors showed how dangerous they can be on the counter attack. It took a tremendous save from Bafana keeper Itumeleng Khune to stop hard-working US midfielder Robbie Rogers from getting a breakthrough with a powerful shot on the edge of the penalty area.

South Africa looked frustrated at the start of the second half and looked to have run out of ideas, repeatedly playing the ball sideways and backwards.

US substitute Teal Bunbury forced Khune to make a smart save from a well taken shot in the 55th minute, which underlined the US tactic of patience and catching their hosts on the break.

Somma again was in the thick of the action but was denied a spot kick by the referee when he was bundled off the ball inside the US penalty area by Eric Lichaj in the 58h minute.

It was Somma’s last act as Mosimane pulled him out of the battle two minutes later and replaced him with Sthembiso Ngcobo. The crowd showed their appreciation by applauding the striker when he left the field.

Ngcobo showed his willingness to run at defenders, when he broke through the US defence and unleashed a thunderbolt that hit the side netting in the 65th minute.

Bafana’s frustration became evident in the 70th minute when Siphiwe Tshabalala took a wild shot from 35 metres that went wide of the goal.

However, when the match seemed headed for a draw, Agudelo forced his way through the stranded Bafana defence and beat Khune with a powerful shot in the 85th minute to ensure the visitors lifted the trophy.

The US have won the Nelson Mandela Challenge twice, having defeated Bafana by the same score in 2007 at Ellis Park. — Sapa