South African defender Olwethu Makhanya again played the full 90 minutes for Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night and for a second successive week got a taste of Mexican opposition which might stand him in good stead if he is selected for the World Cup.
The 21-year-old former Baroka and Stellenbosch defender, however, saw his club bundled out of the Concacaf Champions Cup despite a credible 1-1 draw in Mexico City agaisnt Club America.
Having lost last week’s first leg of the second round tie at home, Philadelphia were eliminated 2-1 on aggregate.
Makhanya competed against at least three players who are set to be picked to play for Mexico at the World Cup. Mexico open the tournament in North America with a Group A game against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium on 11 June.
Club América took the lead in the sixth minute when Rodrigo Dourado scored before Jesus Bueno equalised after Philadelphia were awarded a penalty in the 49th minute.
Club America advance to the quarterfinals to meet Nashville, who eliminated Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, while the Union, coached by former Bafana Bafana fullback Bradley Carnell, will return to MLS regular season action when they host Chicago Fire at the weekend.
Makhanya was named in Hugo Broos’ preliminary selection for this month’s two World Cup warm-up games against Panama and will wait to hear whether he has made the final cut when the South African coach names his squad on Thursday.