Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has opened up on what she believes the team did wrong after letting slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Argentina in their second group game at the FIFA Women's World Cup on Friday morning.
Banyana went into the game against Argentina on the back of a heartbreak after conceding in the last minute to lose 2-1 to Sweden in their opener.
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On Friday, the African champions broke the deadlock against the South American side on the half-hour mark through Linda Motlhalo, after the goal, initially disallowed for offside, was given by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Thembi Kgatlana doubled Banyana's lead on 66 minutes. However, Argentina reduced the deficit on 74 minutes through Sophia Braun and then Romina Nunez snatched the equaliser four minutes later.
Ellis did not want to blame her defence for conceding the two goals but believes it is their decision-making that let them down after creating numerous chances and not converting them.
"I don't think it was the defence that was the problem, the defence held out really well. It was the chances we created, it was the moments when we got into the final third and made the wrong decisions, the players running free on goal," Ellis told SAFA media.
"If we had made better decisions, we would be talking differently right now. We cannot create all those chances, and then they get those two chances at the back and they score. It's about taking our chances and making the right decisions in the final third," she added.
Banyana to need to beat Italy in their final group game next Wednesday morning to stand any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Ellis' charges are bidding to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in their history after they were knocked out in the group stages in their first World Cup appearance four years ago.
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