Bafana come from behind to tame Mambas

South Africa came from a goal down to defeat Mozambique 2-1 in an International Friendly at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Thursday evening.

Bafana Bafana recovered from a first-half showing in which their promising passing play was hamstrung by defensive mistakes, as Bongokuhle Hlongwane struck two quick-fire goals shortly before the hour mark to secure a third successive win for coach Hugo Broos and his charges.

Mozambique should have claimed the lead as early as the fourth minute, when a poor pass from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams went straight to Isac Carvalho, but the attacker struck the post with the net gaping.

However, South Africa continued to make mistakes in the danger area and on 13 minutes centre-back Rushine De Reuck’s mis-judged back-pass to Williams left the ‘keeper stranded, allowing Nelson Divrassone to round the Bafana No 1 and stroke into an empty net for 1-0.

The hosts responded well to going behind and put together some fine passing moves through midfield, though too often their final cross, pass or shot lacked the precision needed to hurt the Mambas.

The closest SA came to an equaliser in the first half was a long-range free kick from Monnapule Saleng which was awkwardly saved by Mozambique goalkeeper Ivane Urrubal on 35 minutes.

The visitors made a change at the start of the second half, introducing Alberto Alface, and nearly doubled their lead within 60 seconds of the restart, as a swift move down the right saw Carvalho fire a fierce shot wide.

Carvalho had another chance a few minutes later when the Mambas stole the ball high up the field, but this time his shot lacked power and was smothered in a low save by Williams.

Bafana turned the game on its head with two goals on 56 and 59 minutes – both via Bongolkuhle Hlongwane, who had missed out on a couple of promising moments in the first half.

The American-based attacker first levelled the game by getting on the end of Nyiko Mobbie’s cross from the right and directing an unconventional effort into the net via his hip.

Hlongwane’s second was a high-class and emphatic strike, as he traded passes with Themba Zwane while cutting inside from the left, before skipping beyond a couple of defenders and firing home a low shot for 2-1.

Teboho Mokoena almost added to South Africa’s lead on 64 minutes, firing a swerving long-range effort which was well saved by Urrubal, while Mozambique were inches away from making it 2-2 five minutes later when substitute Dario Melo clipped the crossbar with a fine shot.

The Mambas thought they had claimed an equaliser on 81 minutes when Melo turned home a low cross from the left, but the offside flag had been raised in the build-up, while Mokoena was twice further denied by Urrubal at the other end in the dying stages.

South Africa will next be in action on the afternoon of Sunday, as they face Angola in another international friendly, set for the same Mbombela Stadium.

South Africa (0) 2 (Hlongwane 56’ 59’)

Mozambique (1) 1 (Divrassone 13’)

South Africa: Williams, Mobbie, Kekana, De Reuck, Modiba, Timm, Mokoena, Zwane (Le Roux 79’), Hlongwane (Sekgota 69’), Saleng (Lakay 80’), Lepasa (Mayo 89’)

Mozambique: Urrubal, Thauzene, Macandza (Macaime 67’), Muze, Chico (Alface 46’), Amadu, Nangy, Divrassone (Calisto 58’), Telinho (Melito 58’), Macuacua (King 53’), Carvalho (Melo 67’)