Nelson Mandela Sports and Culture Day

 

Full Time: South Africa 2-0 Burkina Faso

 

Date: 17 August 2013

 

Venue: FNB Stadium

 

 

 

South Africa were by far the superior side as they ran out 2-0 winners over Burkina Faso at the FNB stadium on Saturday afternoon.

 

Bafana Bafana dominated the possession stakes and were on top from the word go, but despite their complete control of the match their passing in the final third was pretty poor.

 

As a result of their poor decision making in the last third of the field, clear cut chances on goal were few and far between.

 

South Africa did, however, create a chance as early as the sixth minute as David Mathebula fashioned some space for himself on the edge of box, but he saw his shot sail narrowly over the crossbar.

 

In the 22nd minute Bafana did make their dominance count as Siphiwe Tshabalala gave the home side the lead with a clinical finish from the edge of the box into the bottom left hand corner, 1-0

 

Four minutes later and Bernard Parker should have doubled South Africa’s lead after rising highest to meet a corner-kick, but his header was a tame one and easily saved by the keeper.

 

Bafana continued to dictate play and were extremely unlucky not to take a two goal lead into the break as Reneilwe Letsholonyane hit the left-hand post with a 35-yard shot in the 44th minute.

 

The second half continued in the same vein as Bafana applied pressure on the Burkina Faso goal from the start of the second 45.

 

Parker had a great chance to score South Africa’s second goal in the 58th minute when he met a right wing cross with a powerful header, but he saw his attempt well saved.

 

Three minutes later and a good passing movement by Bafana saw Tshabalala in space eight-yards out from goal, but he fired his shot over the crossbar under no pressure from the defence.

 

In the 71st minute, debutant Marc Van Heerden was bitterly unlucky not to find the back of the net as he saw his 25-yard free-kick rattle the crossbar.

 

Bafana did eventually manage to find their second goal as Luyolo Nomandela put the icing on the cake for South Africa with a goal in the dying seconds of the game, 2-0.

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