Banyana: Barker, Ramalepe, Vilakazi, Matlou, Van Wyk (c), Makhabane, Malherbe, Motlhalo, Seoposenwe, Jane, Kgatlana China: Z. Lina, L. Shanshan, G. Chen, L. Dongna, T. Ruyin, Y. Li, W. Shuang, P. Fengyue, Z. Rong, Z. Rui, G. Yasha
Olympics Report: Banyana Banyan v China 07 August 2016
Banyana Banyana
Olympics Result: Banyana Banyana 0-2 China Date: 07 August 2016 Venue: Olympic Stadium Banyana Banyana suffered their second defeat at the Olympic Games, as they lost 2-0 to China at the Olympic Stadium. The South Africans had the first opening of the game inside the first minute, but Jermaine Seoposenwe saw her close range effort saved. Seoposenwe was presented with another chance after 11 minutes, but Gao pulled off a superb block to deny the striker a clear sight at goal. China nearly broke the deadlock in the 17th minute, but Roxanne Barker pulled off a sublime save to deny Shuang from 12-yards out. It proved to be an open affair, and Janine Van Wyk came to Banyana's rescue with a goal-saving tackle in the six-yard box in the 36th minute, before Barker pulled off another good save to deny Yang Li. Van Wyk nearly handed Banyana the lead just before the halftime break, as the defender rattled the crossbar with a venomous volley from the edge of the box. However, China went ahead on the stroke of halftime, as Gu Yasha slipped through the middle of the defence, before firing a low effort into the far corner, 1-0. Thembi Kgatlana was proving to be a real threat down the right wing in the opening stages of the second half, although her final ball was not up to par. China carved out another opening in the 70th minute when Gu Yasha picked out Wang, who headed wide of the mark from six-yards out. Banyana then squandered a clear chance of their own four minutes later, as an un-marked Noko Matlou failed to direct her header on target from close range. Vera Pauw's charges pushed numbers in search of an equaliser, but it was China who sealed the win in the 86th minute, as Tan Ruyin managed to lob Barker from 40-yards out. Here's how they lined up:
