Sello Rabothata

Sello Rabothata

What does a player do when they score two goals in a match against a so-called giant soccer nation and both efforts are ruled offside?

Well, nothing.

This happened to Mamelodi Sundowns striker, Dario Monteiro when he featured for his native country, Mozambique, against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a 2010 Fifa World Cup qualifier last Sunday.

Whether the officials got that right or wrong can be decided by viewers when the African Soccer Television show screens on SABC1 Sport's Laduma programme on Sunday starting at 2.30pm.

For the record, the game ended in a goalless draw.

It was a great weekend for the minnows as Togo also disposed of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon through Emmanuel Adebayor's solitary strike.

The shocks continued when Zambia's Chipolopolo clinched a credible 1-all away draw with African champions, Egypt. Rwanda also produced a goalless draw against the visiting Algeria.

How the game between Didier Drogba's Ivory Coast and Malawi was allowed to continue after a stampede that saw 22 fans crushed to death is still anybody's guess. Drogba went on to score a brace in a 5-0 dousing of the Flames.

Then comes the match after which many South Africans thought we were now world beaters. An under-strength Norwegian national team came from the middle of winter to the Rustenburg heat and we won 2-1, sparking untold euphoria in some quarters.