Bafana Bafana rallied from behind to defeat Mozambique 2-1 in an international friendly on Thursday night.
International Friendly
Result: South Africa 2-1 Mozambique
Date: 17 November 2022
Venue: Mbombela Stadium
Bafana head coach Hugo Broos handed Monnapule Saleng and Miguel Timm their debuts while United States Of America-based Bongokuhle Hlongwane returned to lead the line alongside Zakhele Lepasa.
South Africa had a shaky start as they nearly conceded in the opening exchanges after a mistake by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams led to Stelio Ernesto going clear on goal but his cracking shot rattled the post.
The miscommunication continued at the back for Bafana, as Nelson Divrassone gave Mozambique the lead on 14 minutes after he intercepted a poor back pass by Rushine De Reuck before rounding Williams and scoring into a gaping net.
Broos' charges were fired up to get into the game, as they combined well going forward but they lacked the finishing touches in front of goal.
Saleng had a chance to break the deadlock for Bafana ten minutes before the halftime break from a free-kick out of the box but his dipping strike was punched away uncomfortably by shot-stopper Ivane Urrubal.
South Africa had another erratic start in the second stanza as Williams gave the ball away cheaply playing out from the back but redeemed himself immediately to smother a low shot by Isac de Carvalho.
That was a wake-up call for Bafana, as Hlongwane eventually levelled matters 11 minutes into the second stanza after deflecting a cross by Nyiko Mobbie off his hip past Urrubal at the near post.
The hosts had their tails up, as Hlongwane gave Bafana the lead two minutes later with a low powerful strike after some neat passing in the build-up.
Bafana still had elements of lapse of concentration at the back despite controlling the game, as Dario Melo almost pulled the Mambas level 22 minutes before time with a cracking strike from the edge of the box that skimmed past the top of the crossbar.
Broos changed the shape of attack just after that as Kgaogelo Sekgota replaced Hlongwane and Bafana looked lively again in the closing stages, as Teboho Mokoena forced a fine save out of Urrubal with a shot unmarked in the box after a cut-back by Sekgota.
Bafana continued to be a threat in the dying minutes after Khanyisa Mayo came on for Lepasa and they eventually managed to see out the game and clinched their third win in a row.
Here's how they lined up:
Bafana Bafana: Williams, Mobbie, Kekana, De Reuck, Modiba, Timm, Mokoena, Zwane, Hlongwane, Saleng, Lepasa
Subs: Buthelezi, Xulu, Morena, Lakay, Sekgota, Mayo, Bathusi, Fielies, Msani, Blom, Le Roux
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