ACTUALITE |
14.12.2001
South Africa suffer friendly defeat
South Africa`s confidence ahead of next month`s African Nations Cup suffered a blow after they lost 3-2 to Swaziland in a friendly yesterday.
The South African side, composed entirely of home-based players whom coach Carlos Queiroz wanted to test, surrendered a 2-1 first-half lead, conceding two second-half goals that sent the Swazis onto the streets in wild celebrations.
The defeat is sure to put more pressure on the former Portuguese coach, who only a few hours earlier had suffered a scathing criticism from Kaizer Chiefs` coach Muhsin Ertugal, who accused him on leading the team down what would be the path of humiliation at the African Nations Cup and the World Cup in Korea and Japan.
Yet it looked bright for the Bafana Bafana after Patrick Mayo headed home the curtain-raiser. But South Africa-based Swazi striker Siza Diamini levelled up.
Mayo restored the visitors lead seven minutes before half-time, but it all went wrong in the second half as John Mdluli, who also plies his trade in South Africa, set up Jomo Cosmos to equalise, leaving Wanda Nhleko to crash in the match winner in the 72nd minute.
Unruffled, Queiroz said: "It was an exciting game. The Swazis played very well, but this was a big chance for us to test some players as well as tactics, and in this regard I am satisfied.
"We will now regroup at the end of the month, with the final phase of our preparations."
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Hits: 1 | Source:Internetsoccer | |
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