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With Bafana’s first success coming in a 2-0 win over Angola in the midweek, Gordon Igesund opted to not break up a winning formula and stuck with the exact same line-up which turned out four days prior.
The Atlas Lions got the game under way and they immediately showed a sense of urgency and desire to swing the game in their favour.
They threatened on a number of occasions early on, seeing them force Itumuleng Khune to rush off his line, before Bongani Khumalo had to deal with a threatening set-piece — all within the opening eight minutes of the encounter. Their persistence paid off when they stunned the hosts by grabbing the lead in the 10th minute of the game from a headed strike by Issam El Adoua, which left Khune rooted to the spot.
The Moroccan defender’s strike was the first goal the Bafana squad had conceded in the tournament so far.
South Africa were certainly showing their weaknesses in defending corners and Morocco came close twice off that type of set play.
Chahir Belghazouani forced Khune to push the ball around his near post, before El Adoua rose above everyone else again and headed it wide of goal, just before the 20 minute mark.
When Bafana finally managed to string some passes together, Bernard Parker’s shooting boots were misfiring as he struck a snapshot which glanced across the face of goal.
South Africa came out strong in the final minutes of the first 45 and it was thanks to Khune, who proved why he is deserved of the No 1 jersey.
The shot-stopper ran 15-yards off his line to charge down a Kamel Chafni run, seeing him stop the ball in between his legs.
Things got underway in a similar fashion as to how the game starter, with Morocco dominating, and Igesund opted to bring on Thulani Serero in place of Katlego Mphela, for the remaining 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde joined hosts South Africa in the quarter finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Angola at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium yesterday evening.
A first half own-goal from Cape Verde captain Nando had put the Sable Antelopes in charge, but late strikes from Fernando Varela and Heldon saw the Blue Sharks to their first victory in the Afcon and secured a place in the next round, as Bafana Bafana drew 2-2 with Morocco in a concurrent game in Durban.
Angola were the first to threaten a goal, as captain and star striker Manucho headed just wide of the far post from a 12th minute free kick. The Sable Antelopes dominated the opening 20 minutes, but it was soon the turn of the Islanders to begin to find a foothold in the game and pose some tough questions for their opponent’s defence.
On 33 minutes Angola finally scored their first goal of the tournament and took the lead. Gilberto whipped in a low cross from the left flank that was sliced into his own net by Cape Verde defender Nando.
The Blue Sharks almost came up with an immediate reply, as Babanco’s free kick was flicked just wide of the target by Julio Tavares in the 36th minute. A short while later Angola goalkeeper Lama had to palm away a well-hit drive from Platini.
Cape Verde introduced both Heldon and Djaniny at the start of the second half and nearly forced an equaliser soon after the restart, with Julio Tavares seeing a goal-bound header cleared off the line by Manucho Dinis. On 66 minutes Heldon almost forced a goal for the Blue Sharks with a well-struck free kick, but Lama pushed the ball away to keep his side in the ascendancy.—Supersport.
Online Reporter