FIFA U20 World Cup
Result: South Africa 1-1 Portugal
Date: 31 May 2019
Venue: Stadion Miejski
Amajita bowed out at the group stage phase at the FIFA U20 World Cup on Friday evening after failing to win a single game.
Thabo Senong made four changes from the narrow Korea Republic, giving Leicester City's Thakgalo Leshabela a start alongside Sbusiso Mabiliso, Fezile Gcaba and Promise Mkhuma. Kobamelo Kodisang nearly grabbed the lead for Amajita in the fifth minute with a first-time curling volley that missed the top corner by a whisker,. However, South African side found themselves a goal down in the 19th minute after Portuguese striker Rafael Leao used his burly physique to create space just outside the six-yard box and turned home a cross from Thierry Correia. Senong's charges were on the back foot after conceding the goal, playing with numbers behind the ball and were saved by goalkeeper Khulekani Kubheka from not going two goals down after half-an-hour as the Amajita shot-stopper denied Jota and Leao before the break. Amajita were energetic in the early stages of the second stanza and were awarded a penalty eight minutes after the break following a corner where Diogo Leite was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box thanks after consultation with the Video Assistant Referee. Thabiso Monyane levelled matters for South Africa with a cool low finish from 12-yards. Portugal were awarded a penalty of their own on the hour-mark after a cross hit Gcaba's elbow courtesy, but Jota could not restore the lead for the European side as Kubheka made a great save to keep the score level. Senong made his first change five minutes later as Njabulo Blom came on for Oswin Appollis, but Amajita were nearly punished moments later as Trincao was denied the lead for Portugal by another fine save from Kubheka. Helio Sousa's troops, who had a more realistic chance of qualifying for the knockout round with victory, showed sense of urgency to find the winner in the last quarter of an hour, asking questions of South Africa but they were constantly being denied by the brilliance of Kubheka between the sticks. In the end, 1-1 was how the score encounter ended as Senong's finish the campaign bottom of the Group with one point.
