Banyana
Banyana lost their opening 2013 Group C Cyprus Cup match 2-0 to South Korea but
the gallant Sasol-sponsored warriors were far from being disgraced. The match
took place at the Ammacostos stadium in Cyprus.
Having
lost 2-1 to the same opponents last year and coming into the tournament highly
confident that they would avenge the defeat against the Asians girls, it proved
not to be as the speed and skill of the Koreans proved too much for Banyana.
Two
goals at the beginning of each half was the difference between the two sides in
the freezing city of Larnaca as Joseph Mkhonza’s charges allowed their
opponents too much space and time on the ball while coming off second best in
midfield.
The
African Women championship runners up found themselves a goal down following a
terribly-taken goal kick by stand in goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.
Dlamini,
deputising for Thoko Mndaweni, was given an opportunity to keep goals for the
first time at a tournament with Banyana but lacking in confidence, she would
not have been happy with her debut.
Her
awful goal kick fell straight onto the path of dangerous Korean striker Ji
Soyun who easily controlled the ball, shrugged off central defender Lebogang
Mabatle before firing a low shot past the stranded Dlamini to make it 1-0 inside
the opening 10 minutes of the game. That was the terrible start for Banyana as
it set the tone for the rest of the game.
They
easily lost possession and failed to close down their opponents and they paid a
heavy price against the tactically astute Koreans. The midfield duo of Amanda
Dlamini and Refiloe Jane didn’t make matters any easier as they struggled to
have a firm grip in the middle of the park.
Towards
the end of the first half, Mkhonza's charges slowly got back into the match,
thanks to some neat interplay between winger Mary Ntsweng and Noko Matlou but
the latter’s effort was well saved by Korean goalie Kim Jungmni. The agile keeper was to be tested later again
by interim captain Janine van Wyk’s long range effort and Jermaine Seoposenwe’s
low strike but on both occasions she brilliantly smothered the two efforts.
At
the start of the second half, a through ball from the middle found Jeoun Eunha,
who had time and acres of space to beat a poorly devised offside trap to lob
the ball over Dlamini to make the score 2-0 and shut the match as a contest.
Despite
an outstanding performance by Van Wyk, the two defensive mistakes were to prove
the difference between the two sides. As the match went on and with Dlamini
slowly growing in confidence, she pulled off some brilliant saves to make up
for her earlier errors to keep the score at a respectable 2-0.
Banyana
Banyana will have to vastly improve when they face Northern Ireland in their
second match of the tournament on Friday, 7 March.
In
the evening kickoff after the SA and Korea game, fellow Group C opponents and
neighbours Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland were set to face each
other.
