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you blew it!

ELLIS Park Stadium in Doornfontein, Johannesburg, is not known as "The Park of Pain" in South African soccer circles for nothing.

Bafana Bafana have shown they subscribe to that nickname. They played to a goalless draw with unfancied Iraq in their opening Confederations Cup match yesterday.

This result puts Bafana Bafana under pressure to win their remaining Group A matches against New Zealand and Spain, which will be played at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, in Rustenburg, on Wednesday, at 8.30pm, and at Free State Stadium on Saturday night.

With the creative Teko Modise back from an injury, Bafana Bafana looked more organised and showed a sense of urgency when launching their attacks.

Ranked 79th by Fifa, the Asian champions started adopting a more defensive approach, which frustrated the South Africans in this stadium where the mood was electrifying.

Bafana Bafana striker Bernard Parker tested goalie Mohammed Kassid in the 10th minute.

This was after Parker easily dispossessed defender Fareed Majeed.

Four minutes later MacBeth Sibaya's curling shot was fisted for a corner kick by Kassid.

Iraq settled down towards the end of the first half. They occasionally troubled the Bafana Bafana defence.

Bafana Bafana started the second stanza more organised. Parker's ground shot was saved in the 49th minute. Impatient fans urged coach Joel Santana to make changes as goals continued to elude them despite enjoying more possession.

This was after the Iraqis had changed their initial game plan of being too defensive.

Bafana Bafana invaded Iraq's defence but failed to live up to their midweek promise of getting the tournament off to a good start by winning.

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