COSAFA Cup Quarter-finals
Result: South Africa 2-2 Botswana (Botswana won 5-4 on penalties)
Date: 02 June 2019
Venue: Princess Magogo Stadium
Bafana Bafana stumbled at the first hurdle at the COSAFA Cup following a loss to Botswana on penalties after throwing away a two-goal lead. It was an eventless start to the match, with neither side able to test the goal until Bafana took the lead in the 19th minute. With 18 minutes gone, Absa Premiership Young Player of the Season Teboho Mokoena played a lovely slide-rule pass through the Zebras' defence for Luther Singh to calmly slide the ball past the outcoming goalkeeper Ezekiel Morake. SLTV: Henry: What Does It Take To Reach The UCL Final Bafana were beginning to turn on the style with some fluid one-touch passing and movement and extended their lead shortly before the half-hour mark. Kamohelo Mahlatsi provided the assist for Grant Margeman, who rifled a brilliant effort in to the bottom right-hand corner from 15 yards out. The visitors were not going to go down without a fight and had two golden opportunities in quick succession, but could convert neither. The Zebras looked to capitalise on their height advantage from set-pieces. Thero Setsile's corner found an unmarked Joel Mogorosi in the box, who brought an excellent reflex save out of Bafana goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse with a close-range header. Soon after, Gilbert Baruti forced Pieterse in to another decent save even though the effort was straight at him.
Bafana were playing a dangerous game by simply getting numbers behind the ball and holding on to their lead instead of seeking a killer third.
Finally the visitors capitalised on their height advantage when Highlands Park midfielder Lebogang Ditsele powered a close-range header home from a corner on the hour mark.
This sparked the hosts in to action, who responded by sitting back less and getting more numbers forward in search of a third.
With the last kick of the game, the Zebras scored from another Segolame Boy corner as Thatayaone Ditlhokwe rose highest to head emphatically in to the left-hand corner to take the game to a penalty shootout.
Botswana goalkeeper Morake saved Bafana's fifth from Supersport United starlet Mokoena before Mothusi Johnson converted to win it for the Zebras.
Here's how they lined up:
Bafana: 1. Pieterse, 3. Mohamme, 18. Mthethwa, 23. Frosler, 15. Malepe, 4. Mokoena, 5. Dlala, 6. Mahlatsi, 8. Margeman, 11. Singh, 14. Jordan.
Subs: 2. Cupido, 7. Links, 9. Dickens, 10. Makgalwa, 12. Webber, 13. Mukumela, 16. Johnson, 17. Lepasa, 19. Sam, 20. Mbule, 21. Sekgota, 22. Mpoto.
Botswana: 1. Morake, 3. Ditlhokwe, 4. Gaolaolwe, 5. Leinanyane, 7. Setsile, 8. Baruti, 11. Boy, 12. Johnson, 13. Thulare, 17. Mogorosi, 18. Ditsele.
Subs: 2. Orebonye, 6. Mohutsiwa. 9. Kobe, 10. Ramatlapeng, 14. Mabaya, 15. Cooper, 16. Bosekeng, 19. Makopo, 23. Malapela.
