Thalente Mbatha provided more heroics for South Africa as he scored a last-gasp winner to secure a 3-2 triumph away to South Sudan in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier played at the Juba Stadium on Tuesday.
A spirited display from the Bright Stars seemed to have secured a 2-2 draw, but – just as in the 2-2 draw against Uganda last Friday – substitute Mbatha scored in injury time at the end of the match, this time securing a first victory for Bafana Bafana, which sees them join the Cranes on four points at the top of Group K.
Mbatha does it again for South Africa 🇿🇦!
— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) September 10, 2024
Thalente Mbatha with another saving cameo for Bafana Bafana as his strike gives the visitors a crucial victory over South Sudan 🇸🇸 in Juba!
FT: South Sudan 🇸🇸 2-3 South Africa 🇿🇦 #AFCON2025Q #Bafana #AFCON2025 #CAN2025 pic.twitter.com/x6XJOefLm8
South Africa made two changes to their starting XI compared to the 2-2 draw with Uganda last week, with Sipho Chaine replacing Veli Mothwa in goal to make his senior international debut, and Thapelo Morena was picked ahead of Elias Mokwana on the right flank.
The visitors started brightly, but fell behind on the quarter-hour mark when Tito Okello scored from the penalty spot.
The South Sudan No 9 earned the spot kick after getting in behind the defence and being dragged down by Siyabonga Ngezana.
Bafana Bafana hit back almost immediately to make it 1-1, with Aubrey Modiba teeing up Oswin Appollis to drive home an angled shot from the left side of the penalty area in the 17th minute.
South Africa created further chances through the course of the first half – including Morena seeing a goal-bound shot blocked on the line (with more than a hint of hand-ball) and following that up with an effort which hit the crossbar – but they had to wait until injury time before the interval for their attacking pressure to finally pay off.
MBATHA MAGIC
Lyle Foster had the space to get off a shot just inside the penalty area, only for his effort to strike the post.
However, the rebound fell kindly for Appollis, who showed composure and coolly stroked home a low shot to make it 2-1 to Bafana.
The Bright Stars levelled the game at 2-2 a couple of minutes before the hour mark.
A free kick delivered into South Africa’s penalty ended up pin-balling between players before Valentino Yuel was able to stab home from close range.
South Africa struggled to find the same attacking fluency as in the first half, especially when a downpour hit the venue, though they still created chances for substitutes Mokwana and Relebohile Mofokeng, who both forced sharp saves from goalkeeper Majak Mawith.
The match appeared set for a draw, but five minutes into injury time a loose ball fell to Mbatha on the edge of the box and he speared a left-footed volley into the bottom corner of the net to seal a crucial victory for Bafana Bafana.
Thalente Mbatha YOU BEAUTY😭😭😭 saving Bafana Bafana again, our breadwinner😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/QR8yHk05Fb
— Pikolomzi (@peekay_mab) September 10, 2024
The teams will return to Group K action next month, with South Africa and South Sudan facing respective double-headers against Congo and Uganda respectively.
South Sudan (1) 2 (Okello 15’ pen, Yuel 58’)
South Africa (2) 3 (Appollis 17’ 45+1’, Mbatha 90+5’)
SOUTH SUDAN: Mawith, Okocha, Mabok (Laku 49’), Morgan (Gama 28’), Manase, Yuel (Majak 79’), Okello (Riak 79’), Loki (Yoseke 49’), Taban, Leku, Mara
SOUTH AFRICA: Chaine, Mudau, Ngezana, Dortley, Modiba, Sithole (Mbatha 72’), Mokoena, Zwane, Morena (Mokwana 82’), Appollis (Mofokeng 72’), Foster (Rayners 86’)