It ended 1-1 between Bafana Bafana and Angola in an international friendly at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
It was a bright start with Bafana showing some early initiative though the first chance of the game fell to Angola, though Jaredi Teixeira’s scuffed shot in the sixth minute caused no problems for Ronwen Williams.
Having conceded through a defensive error in their last game, there must’ve been some hearts in the throats when Nyiko Mobbie miskicked his defensive clearance in the box in the ninth minute, but Bafana were able to clear behind. From the resulting corner, Christovao Paciencia headed wide.
Moments later at the other end Kgaogelo Sekgota went close from a good Mobbie cross before Teboho Mokoena forced a good save from former Cape Town City goalkeeper Hugo Marques with a long-range tester.
Christovao Paciencia continued to cause problems at corners and headed wide again in the 15th minute after getting to a ball ahead of Williams. And it was the Angolans who would go ahead from Ambrosini Salvador in the 20th minute, and from those problematic corners, as the Angolan headed in past Williams.
Sekgota went close in the 23rd minute, forcing a good save from Marques, and two minutes later the Kaizer Chiefs winger was fouled just inside the box and Bafana were awarded a penalty. Zakhele Lepasa stepped and while Marques went the right way, he was beaten and the scores were level.
A 44th minute corner for Angola saw their captain Buatu Jonathan get another head on target, but this time it was straight at Williams.
Just before halftime, Mobbie tried a first-time volley but it went just high, and at the break, the score remained 1-1.
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Hugo Broos’s team looked to control the possession in the second half, and while there were some impressive build-ups, they weren’t getting shots at goal, as they were let down by their decisions in the final third. Teboho Mokoena’s effort from distance in the 55th minute went wide of goal.
Having already had to replace Siyanda Xulu with Grant Kekana due to a first half injury, Broos made a few changes on the hour mark, bringing on Thursday’s goal-scoring hero Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Miguel Timm.
Meanwhile, Angola had a good chance in the 61st minute but Paciencia’s powerful effort was well saved by Williams, while a minute later at the other end Aubrey Modiba shot high and wide.
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Pedro Miguel looked like he would give Angola the lead in the 68th minute after being played into space, but when one-on-one with Williams, the Bafana captain made himself big and pulled a good save.
Broos continued to ring the changes and Khanyiso Mayo and Monnapule Saleng were introduced with twenty minutes to play. Saleng’s first contribution was to hit a free kick wide in the 72nd minute.
Timm’s long range effort in the 81st minute failed to trouble Marques, while a minute later Angolan sub Deivi Vieira forced another save from Williams.
Hlongwane had a late chance in the 88th minute, but couldn’t get it on target, while Saleng’s shot from distance two minutes later went wide, as did Luke Le Roux’s in stoppage time.
When the final whistle blew the score remained 1-1, and both teams had to settle for a draw.
