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Paraguay point is a big boost for Bafana Bafana
Two goals in the last half-hour against Paraguay earned South Africa more than just a World Cup point and a hope of reaching the second round, it gave it a big morale boost for the next game against Slovenia. Trailing to two unstoppable
goals, the Bafana Bafana (The Boys) looked a beaten side, even though
it had enjoyed an equal share of possession and did not let its head drop.
Then it got the lucky break it needed - Estaisiao Struway deflecting Tebobo Mokoena's harmless shot into the net - as well as a dramatic final flourish of Fortune, equalizing deep into injury time when Quinton Fortune converted a penalty. Coach Jomo Sono was
delighted with the outcome but knows his side will need to pick up where
it left off when it comes to the Slovenia match in Daegu on Saturday.
As Sono and his squad checked out early on Monday morning from their beach-side luxury hotel on the outskirts of Busan, they had a great deal to chew over as they contemplated the likelihood of their first victory in the World Cup finals. Paraguay exposed weaknesses in the side which had been apparent before - the lack of penetration up front against a well-drilled defense and a lack of attention at the back when under pressure. The attacking options open to Sono suggest that the first problem will be easier to solve than the second, as Benni McCarthy should have greater freedom against a less-attentive Slovenian defense and Sibusiso Zuma's pace could carve a way through and open up opportunties for McCarthy and George Koumantarakis. The Greek-born striker showed he has the power and pace to cause most defenses problems on the ground as well as in the air - it was just that Celso Ayala and Carlos Gamarra are not like most defenses, they seem to work by intuition. As far as South Africa's defense is concerned, the problem might take a little more fixing. At the heart of the back four, Pierre Issa and Lucas Radebe have held things together for years through thick and thin, but this is their last stand, and, on Sunday, it showed. When Issa was taken off as a precaution after picking up a knock early in the first half, it left Radebe exposed, and the veteran found lively young striker Roque Santa Cruz rather a handful. The news on Issa is that he is virtually certain to be fit to face Slovenia, and although Radebe is still nursing a back injury, there is little doubt that he too will play as South Africa pushes him through the pain barrier one more time before he retires, injuries to both knees finally taking their toll. What lies in store against Slovenia is harder to gauge as the side put up a disappointing showing in the 3-1 defeat by Spain - now clearer favorites than before to top the group - and failed to live up to expectations. But there is no room
for half measures if the South Africans are to retain any hope of qualifying.
Saturday's game is a crunch match in every sense of the word, for while
a point might conceivably be enough to take the South Africans into the
second round, they cannot count on it. |
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stalled by UCB Blatter
crushes Hatyatou Nigeria
with it all to do Gritty
South Africa Metsu's
secret The
next Haile Profiles New
kids on the
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