Bafana Bafana paid the price for various mishaps against Liberia last night at the Orlando Stadium, as Mohammed Sangare’s late rocket earned the visitors a 2-2 draw, and dashed Bafana’s hopes of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations final. .
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Bafana lead 2-0 and crossed in the first 25 minutes of this Group K encounter, Lyle Foster’s double seemingly putting Hugo Broos’ side within three points.
South Africa, however, missed the chance after the chance to put the game to bed, and the Liberian substitutes came to the party to take a reliable point, Tonia Tisdell pulled one back and Sangare striking at the death, sparking pandemonium between Liberian players and staff.
The result means Bafana must win in Liberia on Tuesday to guarantee a place at the Africa Cup of Nations, while a defeat will end their hopes.
Bafana started the game looking a bit nervous and Tau recklessly gave away an unnecessary free kick just out of his own penalty area.
Liberia’s Mohammed Kamara stepped up and Ronwen Williams dived down the right to slot the ball into the corner.
More clumsy play from Bafana, giving the ball away inside the half, then seeing Terrence Tisdell go down in the box claiming a penalty.
At 10Th However, Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema instead pointed to the spot in the other corner of the field. There was no doubt about the decision, because the Liberian goalkeeper Tommy Gbayeh Songo clumsily clattered to Tau, after he was put in by a good pass from Teboho Mokoena.
Foster stepped in, did a little shuffle and sent Songo the wrong way from the spot.
The highest rise
And the Burnley striker was again in the 22ndn.d minutes, the highest rise from the corner Mokoena perfectly-placed to power a brilliant header over Songo.
Broos’ side could have added more goals before half-time, Bongokuhle Hlongwane notably missing the target from eight yards out with only Songo to beat, and also making a better solo effort just minutes later.
Bafana thought they had seven minutes left after the break, as Tau curled in a superb free-kick, but it was not to be, as the referee had indicated that the set-piece should have been an indirect free-kick.
Ever seemed to be on a mission to get his own goal, speeding past a couple of defenders, only to be denied by Songo.
Mokoena then smashed an effort inches wide as Bafana continued to dominate, before Tau seemed certain to score as he brilliantly pulled a lobbed pass out of the sky, but also shot just wide.
And Bafana was made to pay for the extravagance in 69Th just a few minutes after leaving the bench, Tonia Tisdell lashed near the free kick post that beat everyone including Williams and nestled in the back of the net.
In 78Th minute, Songo theatrically pushed through Aubrey Modiba’s free kick, after which Broos told Sundowns goalcoring sensation Cassius Mailula’s Bafana debut, came to Foster.
But Sangare who has said the final, leaving hope Bafana strong in the balance.