A
never-say-die attitude by Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana saw them come from
behind to draw 2-2 with rivals Zimbabwe in an entertaining friendly
international at Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The
lunch-time kick off match saw new coach Vera Pauw’s charges overhaul a 2-0
deficit to grab a deserved draw before a boisterous crowd that cheered them
throughout.
It
was the hosts that started with lots of running but were somehow undone by the
long balls which the Zimbabwe backline easily dealt with.
And
from the first counter-attack, Zimbabwe’s Rutendo Makore got the better of
Letago Madiba on a one-on-one situation. The robust Madiba had no choice but
bring down Makore leaving referee Maria Kolokotoane with little choice but
award a penalty which Makore dispatched with ease in the 7th minute.
Sensing
Banyana Banyana had problems in dealing with long balls, Zimbabwe pumped high
balls in the penalty area.
From
one of those attacks, Marjory Nyaumwe outpaced the static Banyana Banyana
defence and her pile driver gave Roxanne Barker no chance to make it 2-0.
It
could have been 3-0 but Makore’s audacious effort moments later hit the
crossbar. Banyana
Banyana then came out of their shell and a combination of Refiloe Jane and
Silindile Ngubane saw the latter’s effort hitting the bar as they started to
threaten the visitors.
And
after incessant pressure thereafter, a goal had to come. And it did arrive at
the stroke of half time when Ngubane’s shot gave Dzingirai no chance to make it
2-1 going into the second half.
In
the second half, Zimbabwe were pinned in their own half but their back four,
well marshalled by Melody Musasa stood firm.
Robyn
Moodaly could have equalised for Banyana Banyana but her long range effort was
brilliantly parried for a corner by Chido Dzingirai as Zimbabwe hang on for
dear life.
However,
the resultant corner kick went wide. Banyana Banyana then literally camped into
the visitors’ area but brave goalkeeping by Dzingirai frustrated the home side.
Refiloe Jane saw her efforts skim the crossbar as Banyana Banyana upped the
antic.
Former
captain Amanda Dlamini who was introduced as a late substitute had a point
blank header saved by Dzingirai as the war of attrition developed into a ding
dong affair.
The
vibrant crowd then raised the tempo cheering the girls as Banyana Banyana
chased what appeared like an elusive equaliser.
But
the hard-running Dlamini made it 2-2 as Zimbabwe finally cracked under
pressure.
It
was a deserved outcome as Pauw’s girls played with more purpose and were by far
a better side in the second half.
Zimbabwe
could have stolen an undeserved win later in the match but Barker produced a
one-handed save from Felistas Muzongondi after the goalkeeper had been left
exposed by her defence.
