THE SA Under-20s edged their Ethiopian counterparts 1-0 in yesterday's second leg of their 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier to ultimately run out convincing 3-0 winners on aggregate.
Amajita took a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Addis Ababa two weeks ago into yesterday's second leg. Shakes Mashaba's team will face Cameroon in the final qualifying round.
The finalists of next year's tournament in Senegal will qualify for the Fifa U-20 World Cup.
Playing in front of a lively crowd, the South Africans had to overcome a well-organised Ethiopia, who looked especially dangerous in attack. The two teams were separated by SA midfielder Nhlakanipho Ntuli's 39th-minute penalty.
Amajita had more of the possession, but the Ethiopians played the counterattack effectively and, if anything, shaded the half-chances from using the ball quickly.
The SA under-20s, the current Cosafa champions, lacked punch in the final third, too often taking the wrong options from promising positions. But they had done the hard work with an impressive away win, allowing for a comfortable enough afternoon yesterday.
Just before the half-hour, left-back Kebede Kasuhun had space on the overlap and struck a shot wide.
Striker Alem Kere and midfielder Tadesse Zeleke both lined up shots from just outside the area that were straight at South Africa goalkeeper Dumisani Msibi.
Amajita added a third goal to their aggregate lead from the penalty spot in the 39th minute, after defender Tekle Tizazu had done well to intercept Fagrie Lakay's low cross from the right but was unfortunate to handle the ball. Ntuli, the former Orlando Pirates playmaker who recently signed with Dutch side FC Twente, placed his penalty to the right of keeper Shifer Klilu.
Nine minutes after the restart SA wing Lakay was free on the right to force a point-blank save from Klilu. The Ethiopians continued to threaten in the final third, though.
Ayalew Teshager's shot from the edge of the box was deflected into the side netting. In the 65th, substitute Desta Tizazu teed up Kere on the left of the SA area, who forced an excellent one-handed diving save from Msibi.
A chip over the top saw substitute Tshepo Chaine through one-on-one with Klilu in the 84th, but the Ethiopian keeper flicked out a leg to deny the South African.
Amajita get the job done
THE SA Under-20s edged their Ethiopian counterparts 1-0 in yesterday's second leg of their 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier to ultimately run out convincing 3-0 winners on aggregate.
Amajita took a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Addis Ababa two weeks ago into yesterday's second leg. Shakes Mashaba's team will face Cameroon in the final qualifying round.
The finalists of next year's tournament in Senegal will qualify for the Fifa U-20 World Cup.
Playing in front of a lively crowd, the South Africans had to overcome a well-organised Ethiopia, who looked especially dangerous in attack. The two teams were separated by SA midfielder Nhlakanipho Ntuli's 39th-minute penalty.
Amajita had more of the possession, but the Ethiopians played the counterattack effectively and, if anything, shaded the half-chances from using the ball quickly.
The SA under-20s, the current Cosafa champions, lacked punch in the final third, too often taking the wrong options from promising positions. But they had done the hard work with an impressive away win, allowing for a comfortable enough afternoon yesterday.
Just before the half-hour, left-back Kebede Kasuhun had space on the overlap and struck a shot wide.
Striker Alem Kere and midfielder Tadesse Zeleke both lined up shots from just outside the area that were straight at South Africa goalkeeper Dumisani Msibi.
Amajita added a third goal to their aggregate lead from the penalty spot in the 39th minute, after defender Tekle Tizazu had done well to intercept Fagrie Lakay's low cross from the right but was unfortunate to handle the ball. Ntuli, the former Orlando Pirates playmaker who recently signed with Dutch side FC Twente, placed his penalty to the right of keeper Shifer Klilu.
Nine minutes after the restart SA wing Lakay was free on the right to force a point-blank save from Klilu. The Ethiopians continued to threaten in the final third, though.
Ayalew Teshager's shot from the edge of the box was deflected into the side netting. In the 65th, substitute Desta Tizazu teed up Kere on the left of the SA area, who forced an excellent one-handed diving save from Msibi.
A chip over the top saw substitute Tshepo Chaine through one-on-one with Klilu in the 84th, but the Ethiopian keeper flicked out a leg to deny the South African.
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