ACTUALITE |
30.01.2002
Bafana Bafana rediscover scoring touch to maul Morocco
SEGOU,
South Africa silenced their critics Wednesday by storming into the African Nations Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Morocco.
Victory earned Bafana Bafana (The Boys) first place in Group B on goal difference from Ghana, who scored twice in the final two minutes to edge Burkina Faso 2-1 in Mopti.
South Africa (plus-two difference) and Ghana (plus one) finished with five points each, Morocco four and Burkina Faso one in a pool that finished dramatically after starting with three consecutive goalless draws.
Labelled a racially divided and demoralised squad by sections of the South African media after drab draws with Burkina Faso and Ghana, Bafana Bafana made several significant changes for the Moroccan match.
Thabo Mngomeni and Bennett Mnguni were drafted into midfield while there was no place for Quinton Fortune from Manchester United, who had a penalty saved against Ghana and has been largely ineffective.
Morocco were first to threaten with a swerving Noureddine Boukhari shot forcing Hans Vonk into an acrobatic save midway through the first half on a warm, partly cloudy afternoon in the agricultural town.
But after 222 minutes of Nations Cup action without a goal, South Africa broke through three minutes before half-time with Sibusiso Zuma blasting in a rebound from close range and celebrated with an impressive backflip.
South Africa struck twice more within six minutes at the start of the second half as Mngomeni finished off a cross from Siyabonga Nomvete, who then turned executioner by firing home a Benni McCarthy pass.
As the stunned Moroccans stared at each other seeking explanations, the largely pro-South Africa crowd of about 5,000 danced, sang and waved flags on the concrete terraces of the Amary Daou Stadium.
Vonk made a superb save from Abdeljilil Hadda before Morocco reduced arrears when Zuma was harshly judged to have fouled Adil Ramzi and Rachid Benmahmoud converted the 77th-minute penalty.
South Africa travel to the isolated north-west town of Kayes for a Sunday showdown with hosts Mali while Ghana tackle Nigeria in Bamako in another quarter-final.
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Hits: 1 | Source:Dailysoccer | |
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