There was heartache for Banyana Banyana as they conceded a 90th minute goal to lose 2-1 to world No 3 Sweden in their opening Women’s World Cup Group G clash at a wet Wellington in New Zealand on Sunday.
Banyana took the lead early in the second half through striker Hildah Magaia and looked on course for at least a historic first point at the finals, but conceded twice in the final 25 minutes to slip to a defeat that will be hard to take.
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Heartbreak for Banyana Banyana as Sweden score a winner in the 90th minute ??
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Fridolina Rolfo found a fortunate equaliser before Amanda Ilestedt headed in from a corner with Sweden having troubled Banyana from set-pieces all night.
Banyana coach Des Ellis may be proud of the performance, but to come away with nothing, albeit from a game against the best team in the pool, will be a huge disappointment,
The match was played in persistent rain which quickened up the surface and made finishing a passing arrange more of a challenge for both sides.
Sweden dominated possession the first half but in truth only really troubled Banyana goalkeeper Kaylin Swart from corners as they used their greater height and physicality to cause plenty of alarms inside the six-yard box.
Banyana just about survived as they managed to scramble the ball away, but Sweden also had several headed chances that they could not capitalise from.
The Banyana plan was clear, absorb the pressure and look to hit Sweden on the break with the pace of Thembi Kgatlana.
But they were reduced to long-range efforts in the opening half, with Refiloe Jane going closest with an audacious effort from 40-yards as she spotted Sweden keeper Musovic off her line. The ball hit the top of the net.
Banyana coach Des Ellis will have been delighted with the first half display as her side were compact and limited the chances for Sweden from open play.
And it got better just after the break as Banyana took the lead within two minutes of the restart.
The goal was the perfect example of their counter-attack plan. Kgatlana got in behind the Sweden defence and took her time to allow re-enforcements into the box.
She unleashed a shot from a tight angle that was only parried by Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, and Magaia had the simple task of bundling the ball home from a yard out.
She was injured in the process though as she was pushed to the floor and collided with the frame of the goal, which forced her off shortly afterwards. That will be a worry for Ellis for the remainder of the tournament.
Banyana looked comfortable after that as they held the Swedes, until a moment of poor fortune allowed the European side to equalise.
A cross from the right picked up pace off the wet surface and Banyana rightback Lebogang Ramalepe failed to deal with it as she missed her pick in attempting to clear.
The ball then hit Sweden forward Rolfo without her knowing much about it and ricocheted into the net past a diving Swart.
From then on it became about holding on for the point for Banyana and they had to withstand not only the storm from above, but also the Swedes.
There was a huge alarm three minutes from time when Swart slipped in coming for a cross and Sweden’s Johanna Rytting Kaneryd had to just head the ball into an empty net, but completely missed the ball.
Sweden did find their winner though and it will be no surprise it came from a corner. The ball was floated into the six-yard box and neither Swart or the banyana defence could handle the height of Ilestedt, who headed down and into the net.