Linda Motlhalo scored a late penalty as Banyana Banyana booked their place in the WAFCON final after beating Zambia 1-0 in their semi-final at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca on Monday evening.
Desiree Ellis made three changes to her starting line-up from the team that beat Tunisia 1-0 in the quarter-finals. Zambia had booked their place in the last four with a penalty shootout win over Senegal in their last eight fixture that had ended 1-1 in regulation time.
It was Banyana’s first match in the Moroccan capital after playing all four previous matches in Rabat.
A fourth-minute attempt from Grace Chanda was always wide of Andile Dlamini’s goal, as the South African goalkeeper gathered comfortably, as the two teams sized each other out in the opening minutes.
Zambia had another good attempt in the 10th minute, after a good counterattack, Ochumba Oseke got to the end of a good cross but her final attempt was well wide.
The Copper Queens were getting the early chances, and after a defensive error, Chanda tried from just outside the box in the 13th minute, but her shot was straight into the safe hands of Dlamini. Chanda was almost in again moments later, but this time an excellent tackle from Noko Matlou put a stop to it.
While Banyana were dominating the possession stakes, chances were not forthcoming, and they failed to have a shot in anger in the opening half hour.
Finally, a chance fell to Matlou from a Refiloe Jane free kick in the 32nd minute, but the defender’s header lacked power and Catherine Musonda saved comfortably. Another half chance three minutes later fell to Jane but her shot deflected off Noxolo Cesane, and Musonda gathered comfortably.
Zambia continued to threaten, and Oseke had another chance with her head from a corner in the 42nd minute, but Dlamini made the save. At the end of 45 minutes, it remained goalless.
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Siomala Mapepa had a chance in the opening minute of the second half, but her shot from the left was tame and rolled into Dlamini’s hands.
Jane tried from range in the 51st minute, but her shot went a few yards wide, while substitute Nomvula Kgoale’s effort a minute later went high and wide.
Banyana looked to have been awarded a penalty in the 59th minute after Cesane was brought down on the edge of the area, but after a VAR check, it was brought back to being a free kick. Jermaine Seoposenwe’s effort from the set piece was deflected behind.
The momentum began to shift in Banyana’s favour, who continued to control the possession, and another chance fell to Kgoane from a 72nd-minute Cesane cross, but Musonda was able to punch the ball away first.
But while Banyana were committing fewer errors than in the first half, they continued to struggle to create chances in the final third. A rare second-half attack for Zambia though, saw Chanda shoot just wide in the 83rd minute.
A fantastic chance fell to an unmarked Hilda Mogaila a minute later, after some good combination play with Seoposenwe, but Musonda denied the substitute with an excellent save.
A VAR check in the stoppage time saw a penalty awarded to Banyana, after it was adjudged Seoposenwe was fouled in the box. Linda Motlhalo stepped up to take the spot kick and the Banyana midfielder coolly slotted to give South Africa the lead deep into stoppage time.
Banyana’s fifth win in a row, and while less convincing than in previous games, Ellis’s team are in the final!
