International Friendly
Result: South Africa 1-2 Zambia
Date: 11 October 2020
Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Bafana Bafana were left shell-shocked after Zambia came from behind to score two late goals and claim a 2-1 victory at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday.
Bafana head coach Molefi Ntseki recalled most of his first-choice players to the starting line-up after fielding a largely inexperienced outfit against Namibia.
However, Molefi was forced into an early change as Keagan Dolly replaced Lyle Foster in the opening minute after the Vitoria Guimaraes striker was stretchered off following a hefty aerial challenge.
Despite the dominance of the 2012 AFCON champions, the hosts came closest to scoring when midfielder Thabiso Kutumela received the ball on the edge of the box in the 13th minute and curled a superb effort inches wide of the top right corner.
The Zambians had their best opportunity on the hour mark when Tandi Mwape rose highest but could only direct his header over from a corner. Soon afterwards, Anderlecht star Percy Tau came to life when he combined with Teboho Mokoena before getting a snapshot away which forced Chipololo goalkeeper Sebastian Mwange in to tipping the ball around the post.
However, the Zambians came the closest either side had come to scoring in the 39th minute when Lubambo Musonda hit the post with a strike that hit the keeper's right-hand post and bounced back in to play before being cleared to safety by the relieved Bafana defenders.
Zambia were pressing hard for the opener as Madisha made a heroic last-ditch sliding tackle to deny Evans Kangwa just as he was about to pull the trigger with the goal at his mercy and then Collins Sikombe somehow side-footed over the bar from point-blank range with the goal gaping.
But it was Bafana who broke the deadlock in the 66th minute when Tau received the ball on the halfway line and played a peach of a through-ball for Dolly, who took the ball around the keeper and passed the ball in to an empty net.
Kermit Erasmus came on to replace Kutumela after 70 minutes but it was Zambian coach Milutin Sredojevic's changes that made a huge difference as two quickfire goals saw his side snatch the lead.
First, Ronald Kampamba drilled the ball through Hlatshwayo's legs and into Keet's bottom right-hand corner in the 78th minute. And three minutes later, Chaniza Zulu made it 2-1 after substitute Gamphani Lungu's scuffed shot found its way to him for the simplest of finishes.
Here's how they lined up:
Bafana: Darren Keet, Reeve Frosler, Thulani Hlatshwayo (C), Motjeka Madisha, S'fiso Hlanti, Andile Jali, Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane, Percy Tau, Thabiso Kutumela, Lyle Foster.
Subs: Ricardo Goss (GK), Abubaker Mobara, Gladwin Shitolo, Thibang Phete, Mosa Lebusa, Mothobi Mvala, Siyethemba Sithebe, Thabo Nodada, Keagan Dolly, Luther Singh, Kermit Erasmus.
Zambia: Mwange, Chiboni, Chilongoshi, Mwape, Sakala, Kapumbu, K. Kangwa, Musonda, Sikombe, Sakala, E. Kangwa.
Click through the gallery below to the South African players who completed moves abroad recently
