Bafana
Bafana midfield maestro Teko Modise (Photo: safa.net)
A superb second-half strike by Teko Modise helped Bafana
Bafana share the honours with Australia as the teams played to a 2-2 draw
in an international soccer friendly at Loftus Road in London on Tuesday
night.
Although South Africa took an early lead, it was the Socceroos who dominated
the first half, which helped them take a 2-1 advantage into halftime.
After the break a much improved performance by Bafana provided cause for
optimism : and an equalising goal. It was, very much, the clichÊd game
of two halves.
Coach Joel Santana included midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi and left back Bradley
Carnell in the South African side, giving the two Germany-based players
their first international opportunities in almost a year. Striker Benni
McCarthy made an umpteenth return to the Bafana line-up.
After the first whistle sounded, the Australians hit their stride quickly
and won a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the area, which
also cost SA captain Aaron Mokoena a yellow card when he dragged down
Scott McDonald. Fortunately for South Africa, Mark Bresciano failed to
capitalise.
The men from Down Under were making the running, but they fell behind
to a superbly engineered goal after 20 minutes.
Receiving a pass from Kagiso Dikgacoi on the edge of the area, Benni McCarthy
back-heeled the ball into the path of Siyabonga Nkosi, who picked it up
at pace as he pushed forward onto the attack. The midfielder made no mistake
with the opportunity, guiding the ball past Aussie goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer
to open the scoring.
The lead didn't last long. Four minutes after Bafana had hit the front,
Australia were back on level terms through Mile Sterjovski. He picked
up a long ball from Vincenzo Grella and, when confronted by Itumeleng
Khune, lobbed the ball over the SA goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
It was a questionable decision by Khune to leave his line. The Kaizer
Chiefs' netminder, who had so far impressed in his short international
career, did not enjoy a good outing and more errors of judgement and execution
followed.
One of those mistakes occurred shortly after he had conceded the goal;
Khune failed to hold on to a cross and Joshua Kennedy was off target with
a header.
Sterjovski beat Khune again in the 36th minute but, to the relief of the
South African side, the goal was disallowed after the Australian was ruled
offsides.
Khune's bad night continued with halftime approaching when he misjudged
a free kick by Bresciano, leaving Kennedy with a free header which he
gratefully headed past the goalkeeper to put Australia 2-1 to the good.
Despite playing second fiddle throughout the half, Bafana had a good opportunity
to draw level in the 41st minute when Nkosi set McCarthy up with a pinpoint
cross. The striker, though, headed wide and South Africa went into the
break trailing by a goal.
Joel Santana's charges started the second half brightly and McCarthy again
threatened with a header from a corner, but he couldn't keep his shot
down.
Dean Carney sounded a warning for the Socceroos when he drilled a shot
just over the South African goals.
Macbeth Sibaya then tried a shot from long range and his sizzling drive
from 30 metres was not far off the target.
With 13 minutes played in the second stanza, South Africa pulled level
through a great goal from Teko Modise.
McCarthy created some space for Bryce Moon with a neat back-heel and he,
in turn, knocked in an accurate pass to an unmarked Modise, who blasted
an unstoppable shot into the back of the net from 16 metres out.
The match then drifted back and forth, with neither team creating a decent
chance until Khune was beaten by Australian substitute Bruce Djite, but
luckily for him Nasief Morris was covering and cleared the ball off of
the goal line.
After the contest, SA coach Santana was full of praise for striker Benni
McCarthy, telling the media that the Blackburn Rovers' star had a key
role to play for Bafana Bafana at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Santana lauded McCarthy's ability to hold up the ball and said he also
worked hard at shutting down defenders.
"I hope he will be a regular over next two years, but football is
always a surprise," said Santana.
There will be continuing concerns about the central defence pairing of
Nasief Morris and Aaron Mokoena. Although both men are fine players, together
they still allow the opposition to play too much football in the middle
of the park.
Khune had a poor game in goal, but the 21-year-old will, no doubt, improve
and has a future at international level.
