A younger Bafana Bafana lost on penalties but went down with a fight against a stronger and experienced Mozambique of their Cosafa Cup quarterfinal conflict at a colourful King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Tuesday night.
Bafana held their older neighbours to a goalless draw before dropping 5-four inside the penalty shoot-out.
For SA Selaelo Rasebotja, Athenkosi Mcaba, Keagan Johannes and Zuko Mdunyelwa all scored their spot kicks even as Antonio van Wyk, Lancaster Human and Siyanda Msani ignored.
Edmison Dove, Nené, Danilo Muze, Shaquille Momad Nangy and Lau King gave Mozambique the victory with their successful penalties even as Telinho and Ifren Matola overlooked.
Bafana stand-in coach Helman Mkhalele selected several excited children to the beginning line-up including Orlando Pirates’ starlet Boitumelo Radiopane, who is on mortgage at Cape town Spurs, Kaizer Chiefs’ Keletso Sifama and the SuperSport United pair of skipper Johannes and Rasebotja.
Stellenbosch FC’s Mcaba changed into the simplest participant inside the beginning line-up who had represented the senior country wide crew.
Mkhalele was unable to pick out midfielder Ethan Brooks as he’s out with a minor knee damage.
whilst the oldest Bafana participant within the group became Zuko Mdunyelwa (23), Mozambique delivered their excellent and most skilled aspect led through former Cape town town defender Dove, who captained the Mambas.
however, Mkhalele’s younger boys regarded now not to be troubled via that as they kept their neighbours underneath pressure early in the conflict.
Bafana looked strong after they have been attacking and additionally strong in defence and played with out worry. The simplest thing that SA lacked changed into the very last touch as they created possibilities, but couldn’t placed them to proper use.
Sifama almost broke the impasse inside the first 15 minutes, but his shot from the left aspect inside the field went throughout the goalmouth.
the first half added everything that a soccer fit wishes however the goal.
Bafana persisted to show power in the 2d 1/2 as they created a fair quantity of possibilities. The 18-12 months-old Thapelo Maseko’s lengthy-variety shot compelled a terrific keep from Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan Siluane on 55 mins.
Seven mins later Radiopane ballooned his danger with simplest the keeper to beat and the young striker become substituted quickly after that as Van Wyk of Stellenbosch FC turned into brought on.
without neither sides capable of find the returned of the internet, the healthy needed to be determined thru the lottery of consequences.
earlier, west African guest crew Senegal additionally wanted penalties to dispatch surprising Eswatini once they performed to a 1-1 draw.
The Senegalese won the shoot-out 10-nine.
Senegal had taken the lead early in the sport and they appeared like they have been going to win without lots trouble. They scored inside the eighth minute via a Lamine Camara loose-kick and some bad goalkeeping by means of Eswatini’s shot-stopper Mathabela Sandanezwe.
Eswatini equalised at the hour-mark thru Philani Mkhontfo and after that neither facet should find the again of the net.
Bafana will now play Madagascar in a Plate semifinal at the same time as Botswana tackle Eswatini in the different conflict.
within the most important Cosafa Cup semis, Namibia will face Mozambique as Senegal face Zambia.