Bafana Advance After Thrilling Draw
27 January 2013
Afcon 2013
Result: South Africa 2-2 Morocco
Date: 27 January 2013
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Referee: Papa Gassama
South Africa twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw with Morocco to top Group A and qualify for the quarter-finals of Afcon 2013.
Issam El Adoua gave the Lions of Atlas the lead of half-time, but May Mahlangu brought the hosts back into the match. Abdelilah Hafidi then put the Moroccans up again, but Siyabonga Sangweni netted four minutes from time to secure the point.
In the other Group A match, Cape Verde secured a late 2-1 over Angola to ensure they also reached the knockout stages along with Bafana.
Bafana were under pressure early on as Itumeleng Khune was called upon to make multiple saves while the defensive duo of Bongani Khumalo and Siyabonga Sangweni were kept busy. Despite two calls for penalties denied as Thuso Phala and Tokelo Rantie went down in the Moroccan area, it was the visitors who went ahead as El Adoua turned in a corner on ten minutes.
Khune was again called on to keep the ball out when another shot from Chahir Belghazouani came desperately close to sneaking in.
Just before the half-hour Bafana came close when Phala went storming into the area and crossed to Bernard Parker, but the final shot sprayed across the face of goal.
Rantie then went on a brilliant counter attack with acres of space on the left, but with two players waiting in the centre, the final pass lacked any conviction and the Lions of Atlas were able to clear the danger.
With half-time looming Khune produced a sensational piece of goalkeeping as he thwarted the effort of an onrushing Kamel Chafni who expertly beat the offside trap.
After the break Bafana came out with new energy and nearly bagged an equaliser, but Phala’s superb free-kick was just turned around the corner by Nadir Lamyaghri.
Khune then again kept his team alive with a telling save when he found himself one-on-one with Youssef El-Arabi and managed to get a hand on the final shot.
With 19 minutes to play the Moses Mabhida Stadium erupted as May Mahlangu got the ball on the edge of the area and picked his spot before curling it into the corner for the vital equaliser.
But the Moroccans regained their lead shortly after when substitute Abdelilah Hafidi smashed the ball past Khune from close range.
The unlikely figure of Siybonya Sangweni then beat the offside trap with four minutes to play and with all the time in the world, the Orlando Pirates defender netted his second goal in as many matches to make it 2-2 giving his team the vital point as they held on for the draw.
Standard Bank Moment of the game. With just four minutes remaining on the clock, the surprise figure of Siyabonga Sangweni found himself with a shot at goal from the edge of the area and buried it with the finesse of an international striker to give his country a well-deserved 2-2 draw, sending the Moroccans out of the tournament.
South Africa: Itumeleng Khune, Anele Ngcongca, Bongani Khumalo (captain), Siyabonga Sangweni, Tsepo Masilela, Dean Furman, May Mahlangu, Thuso Phala, Bernard Parker (Reneilwe Letsholonyane 76), Tokelo Rantie, Katlego Mphela (Thulani Serero 51).
Morocco: Nadir Lamyaghri, Abderrahim Achchakir, Ahmed Kantari, Mehdi Benatia, Abdelaziz Barrada (Mounir El Hamdaoui 75), Youssef El-Arabi, Youssef Kaddioui (Abdelilah Hafidi 53), Abdelhamid El Kaoutari, Issam El Adoua, Chahir Belghazouani (Zakarya Bergdich 63), Kamel Chafni.
Goals: Issam El Adoua (Morocco, 10), May Mahlangu (South Africa, 71), Abdelilah Hafidi (Morocco 82), Siyabonga Sangweni (South Africa 86)
comments
This is our moment - we need to grab this chance with all our might. Next assignment is obviously Mali, they are a hard nut to crack and expecting really a tough encounter on Saturday, the likes of Modibo Maiga, strong going forward - Seydou Keita, aware of the environment he is in at all times - Khumalo and Nsimbi need to tighten up at the back and make the defensive flanks effective enough through communication, Bafana*2 going forward- Golden Blood!!!
Submitted by: mothogaafele
Date: 01 February 2013, Time: 08:31:34
Bafana Bafana starting XI Vs Mali is as follows: 1. Itu "touch the sky" Khune 2. Siboniso "Pa" Gaxa 3. Tshepo "Stop nonsense" Masilela 4. Bongane "Model C" Khumalo 5. Siyabonga "Ntsimbi" Sangweni 6. May Mahlangu 7. Dean Furman 8. Thuso Phala 9. 10. Bernard "Die Hond" Parker 11. Thulane "Mfana O Phethe Magic" Serero
Submitted by: matswakatswaka
Date: 31 January 2013, Time: 07:53:25
Thank you boys boys you made my dai hope you going to do it against mali
Submitted by: scelo4real
Date: 29 January 2013, Time: 10:45:11
Bafana kaofela
Submitted by: papa_khethiwe
Date: 28 January 2013, Time: 21:03:26
I meant BEST PROUDEST BAFANA SUPPORT BASE...............Mabhida all the way, KZN kuze kuyovalwa. Basop guys in Jozi, if you are still into this boycott thing of yours, we are bizi buying the FNL Tickets here in KZN.
Submitted by: Sonij
Date: 28 January 2013, Time: 18:58:37
One thing that makes me very happy is the fact that if we advance to the semis.......coz were are, we will be playing in the part of the country that knows what is meant by being a responsible and patriotic citizen. KZN is the home of progress in this country......least BLACK-WHITE bickering, least ANC-DA national divide, less CHIMPANZI - RATS ratatataaaah, least PROUDEST BAFANA SUPPORT BASE..............We are gonna fill the Bafana Mabhida to capacity for the next remaining games in KZN. I just wish that the FNL was gonna be in DBN. Those are really PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICANS.........Joubergers with your "we are great, attitude" you need to learn a thing or two. NO 1 IS GONNA BAG U 2 BE SOUTH AFRICANS....ukukho kucengana here. Go BB Go, Go SA Go, Go KZN Go, Go Khabazela Go
Submitted by: Sonij
Date: 28 January 2013, Time: 18:55:52
Thanks to the team - mistakes are made in the field of play and the players need to complement each other. The players need to defend with thier heads held up and they are making Khune look a cow, first goal Khumalo gave the opponent a free header while the second one all the players rushed towards goal line giving opponents enough time to strike at goal - errors like that are not permissible as we will always chase the game that we should easily win - Golden Blood!!!
Submitted by: mothogaafele
Date: 28 January 2013, Time: 16:45:09
Maybe you cow editor you must use a correct statement what do you mean when you say "Sangweni beat the offside trap wt four minutes to play and with all the time in the world" ? You sound like all those Chips supporters, maybe you are!!
Submitted by: Blaaar
Date: 28 January 2013, Time: 16:11:15
The monkeys are at it again khune this sangweni that this chieps/rats debate is irritating people talk junk as if they have contributed something to the development of soccer. Taking ownership of players while sitting on the sofa and milking the cow. Wake up & smell coffe remember we are all bafana bafana. Viva sport development viva.
Submitted by: Mxovra
Date: 28 January 2013, Time: 15:32:15
U don't come hear n say Khune saved the nation ! Its his job to stop shots from going in the net !!!! Nxa hu will stop shots frm going in if he doesn't ? YES YES its a FACT : SANGWENI SAW US THRU ! He made sure he goes an extra mile to save the nation and the Coach' @ss js becoz he can !!!
Submitted by: Zersto
Date: 28 January 2013, Time: 15:02:29