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Zambia's Collins Mbesuma

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The match was the 18th edition of the Nelson Mandela Challenge, held at FNB Stadium, in Johannesburg, on Wednesday night.

In a repeat of the inaugural Challenge in 1994 — when Bafana claimed a 2-1 win at Ellis Park — Bafana skipper Bongani Khumalo celebrated his 30th cap for the country, while Igesund suffered his first defeat to African opposition since taking over from Pitso Mosimane in July.

The visitors were in with the first chance, after Isaac Chansa rocketed an effort towards goal, but the shot was steered clear by SA goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who kept the scores level seven minutes into the tie.

With a lack of scoring opportunities and a frustrating opening 25 minutes, Igesund made an early substitution, as Tokelo Rantie was replaced by Katlego Mashego, after Rantie was hurt in a challenge deep in Zambia’s half.

In a quiet opening period, with half chances falling to Bernard Parker, Ricardo Nunes and Sifiso Myeni, Zambia made inroads in the Bafana defence, but failed to string final passes, with Khune ever watchful at the back.

The second half started brightly for Bafana, who were in with an early chance, as Kermit Erasmus found Mashego with a neat ball over the top, before Mashego had a narrow miss, clipping the top of the net on its way over.

Five minutes later, Mashego was in with another chance, as a free-flowing Bafana move started by Erasmus found Lerato Chabangu on the left flank, who whipped in a dangerous delivery into the six-yard area, but Mashego blasted over from close range.

The game looked to have entered a lull, but Zambia came through and took the incentive shortly after the hour mark, with the opener coming in the 64th minute.

The Zambian midfield held onto the ball and put together a series of short, quick passes before Orlando Pirates’ Mbesuma was allowed to turn on the ball inside South Africa’s area and drilled his effort past Khune, high into the net, past a helpless Khune.

Having fallen behind, the hosts pushed more players up in attack, which looked to be paying off, after second half replacement Thuso Phala saw his audacious effort saved by Zambian goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, keeping Chipolopolo ahead with a quarter of the match left.

The South Africans were kept under pressure by their visitors and lacked the final touches in the Zambian half, resulting in a disjointed attack when they were allowed forward movement, while the Zambian defence mopped up any loose balls.

With 30 seconds of regulation time remaining, Erasmus came agonisingly close, but was thwarted by Mweene, who made a spectacular save to deny what looked like a certain equaliser.

Mashego was on hand for the rebound, but failed to make his chip count, as the ball went over the bar, wrapping up a frustrating evening in front of goal for Bafana.

The playing surface had recovered in time after fears that the field would not be ready, with American band Linkin Park having performed at the weekend.

The ground staff recovered a corner of the pitch that had been damaged by heavy rainfall during Saturday’s concert, though patches of worn grass remained, particularly on one side of the field.

A strip in front of the goal, on South Africa’s side in the first half, was covered with sand and grass shavings.

Comments

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Thu May 23 20:39:17 SAST 2013 ::

Nov 15, 2012

asaowe

I blame khune, he was sleeping btwen goal post.
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Nov 15, 2012

Mgushatheghost

Khune was Mbesumarised . I foresee danger come the 8th of December - Friend sof the Chipolopolo
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Nov 15, 2012

MGEEZ

Ntofo-Ntofo!!!!!!!!!! What a cracker of a goal!!!
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Nov 15, 2012

KatakataEmaotoAditshepe

With what I've seen yesterday we're in the middle of nowhere.
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Nov 15, 2012

lisbon

that was the softest goal,,khune is to blame for the loss.
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Nov 15, 2012

oneJay

@asaowe

I blame khune he was sleeping btwen goal post.
..............................................................................
NXAA! man poor defefence that Mbesuma Guy was unmarked not even a single defender to presurisise him
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Nov 15, 2012

shakashaka

It take stime to build a winning team. The Zambian team was built from 2003 during Kalusha's tenure and it aonly produced results in 2012. We South Africans we have been lying on ourselves thinking that we can build a winning team in less than a year. Time will tell if firing Pitso was the right thing to do. The new coach is starting from scratch as if the team left by Pitso was very bad. It is good to look for all SA players thar are playing in other countries but please make sure what you bring here is better than what we have.

Besides his sweet left foot but come on is this Nunes guy better than Punch, Van Heerden, Richie or Pungwayo? It looks like we will have another Aron Mokoena in Khumalo. In miedfield this combination of Fuurman and KG will never work. Fuurman want to play I am not sure about KG. Striking is the only department that I think it ok
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Nov 15, 2012

Chichi7

and if that Ref had given the penalty (which was ignored) chipolopolo would have had 2 goals to 0!!
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Nov 15, 2012

spantusenkgang

@ asaowe and mgushatheghost
leska tlo nya lona. khune was all well until mbumuza's goal. he kept us in tact and saved crucial balls. o tla le bontsha hantle ka di 8 on the same venue. he was just playing with a useles defense that never protected him. GI is taking us anywhere. the less said about myeni the better. he's not an international material. ho shwa batho come di 8 dec
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Nov 15, 2012

Nzwere

KatakataEmaotoAditshepe
With what I've seen yesterday we're in the middle of nowhere.
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We are not even in the middle of nowhere, we are actually very far from nowhere. jerrrrrrrrrr, if we cant beat a poor Zambia, who do we expect to beat?? Gorden must stop being big headed, he must take the SA's midfield mystro Andile Jali and stop this nonsense of running after Pienaar. the absense of intsimbi was visible. but for all it's worth]

Mbesuma 1 - Khune 0
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