Heartbreak for Bafana Bafana as Liberia score late equaliser

Liberia scored in the dying minutes of the game to earn a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Bafana Bafana in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers at Orlando Stadium on Friday evening.

Bafana Bafana squandered a 2-0 lead after Lyle Foster had scored twice in the first half, proving why he is the most expensive player in SA.

Hugo Broos’ troops have themselves to blame as they created plenty of clear-cut opportunities but failed to bury their chances.

Playing with all the freedom of a multi-millionaire, Foster was the brightest start on the night.

LYLE FOSTER SHINES

The Burnley FC striker scored the opening goal of the match just after the 11^th minute from the penalty spot. This comes after Percy Tau was fouled inside the box by a Liberian defender.  

It did not take long for Bafana to make it 2-0, with Foster guiding home a beautifully whipped-in corner by Teboho Mokoena in the 22nd minute of the game to complete his brace.

The 22-year-old Foster has now scored three goals in Group K. He netted when Bafana suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Morocco in their AFCON qualification opener.

Bafana went into the break with a healthy lead and started the second half like a house on fire.

With a 2-0 lead, Bafana maintained the high tempo and continued to ask serious questions.

However, the finishing was as poor as the attendance at Orlando with Hugo Broos looking dejected on the touchline.

Percy Tau and Bongokuhle Hlongwane were the culprits. Tau thought he had made it 3-0 from an indirect freekick in the 53^rd minute. But the goal was disallowed as the ball didn’t touch a Bafana player.

With Bafana failing to kill off the game, Liberia pulled one back in the 68^th minute through Tonia Tisdell.

Ronwen Williams was tested a few times. He pulled off a great save to deny Liberia in the 89^th minute of the game.

LATE STUNNER

It took a stunner to beat Williams once again as Liberia equalised in added time through Mohammed Sangare.

Heading into the crunch, Bafana needed four points to seal a place in Africa’s showpiece for the first time since the 2019 edition in Egypt.

And with two points dropped at home in the first tie, Bafana must beat Liberia in the return leg away from home on Tuesday, 28 March.

RELATED STORY: All AFCON fixtures and results as Bafana Bafana host Liberia