Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis and Player of the Match against Italy, Hildah Magaia have opened up on their historic first FIFA World Cup win and progression into the last 16.
South Africa edged Italy in a five-goal thriller in their last group game on Wednesday morning courtesy of a stoppage time winner by Thembi Kgatlana.
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Ellis' charges went behind early in the game after Caruso Arianna converted a spot-kick for the European side but they had a lifeline just after the half-hour mark as Orsi Benedetta scored into her own net through a back pass that evaded her goalkeeper.
Magaia put Banyana ahead on 67 minutes but Italy found the equaliser with 16 minutes to go.
However, Kgatlana snatched the winner for Banyana in added time thanks to a cut-back by Magaia.
"No one gave us a chance today but we knew what we were capable of, they fought like warriors," Ellis said in the press conference, as provided by SAFA media.
Sign In"That save from Kaylin (Swart) at the end could have just put us out of the tournament (if it went in), but we never stopped fighting. Sometimes a player makes one mistake and then she makes 15 or 16 other good saves, so do you drop that player?
"The influence that she (Refiloe Jane) had on the bench was so immense as the captain, because we knew she had insight, we knew she knew the Italian team inside, out."
There was 11 minutes of added time, as Banyana had to hold on for nine minutes after Kgatlana scored and the injury to Lebohang Ramalepe meant there were more minutes added.
Ellis said, sarcastically, that she nearly died with so many minutes of added time when they were leading.
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Meanwhile, Magaia, nicknamed 'Breadwinner', was the official Player of the Match after she scored one goal and assisted the other.
The South Korea-based striker opened up on her influence in the game and suggested they don't call her 'breadwinner' for nothing.
"They call me the 'Breadwinner' so without the bread winner there's no bread, I had to provide bread for the nation," Magaia said in the same press conference provided for by SAFA.
"It means a lot, especially knowing we were so close to going home, it really means a lot. But personally, I'd say since it's my first World Cup, it's an emotional one," she said.
Magaia also added that with the increased earnings for reaching the knockout stages, where each Banyana player is set to get $60, 000 (R1.14 million), she will use the money to help her mother.
"I'll be able to help my family, I'll be able to do everything for my mother, because I'm the one who is taking care of her, I'm the bread winner, so I'll be doing everything for my mom," she concluded.
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