FILE PHOTO: Sweden's defender Nathalie Bjorn (L) is challenged by South Africa's midfielder Refiloe Jane (R) during their opening Women’s World Cup match. PICTURE: Marty Melville/AFP
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0 WELLINGTON: Banyana Banyana put up a gutsy performance against the Swedes, but it was not enough as they fell to the Swedes in the dying moments of the encounter.
Banyana Banyana suffered a last-minute defeat at the hands of Sweden in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in their Group G opener at Wellington Regional Stadium, New Zealand, on Sunday.
The Swedes dominated the opening minutes of the match in terms of ball possession and posed constant threats aerially, thanks to their superior height advantage.
Banyana Banyana were always under pressure when it came to a corner and free kicks closer to their goalposts. They did have their chances in the first half, but they could not convert them.
Desiree Ellis’ team held their own against the physically imposing Europeans in the first half, which ended goalless.
Banyana Banyana had a dream start in the second half, taking the lead when Hilda Magaia opened the scoring for South Africa in the 48th minute, thus becoming the second player for Banyana Banyana to score in the World Cup. Incidentally, the first player to score at the World Cup is Thembi Kgatlana, who opened her account in the previous one.
The joy for Banyana Banyana, however, was short-lived for the forward who injured herself as she scored. As a result, she had to be subbed off. She was replaced by JVW’s Gabriela Salgado.
The Europeans surged forward in search of an equaliser, thus putting South Africa under immense pressure. The pressure became too much for the over-stretched South Africans. In the 65th minute, Barcelona’s Fridolina Rolfo got the final touch of a cross that Mamelodi Sundown Ladies’ Lebohang Ramalepe failed to deal with and thus conceded Sweden’s equaliser.
The match, all square in the final 10 minutes, opened up, but the Swedes wanted it more and kept sending more bodies forward to squeeze Banyana Banyana into their own defensive zone. The pressure was telling as Banyana Banyana kept conceding corner kicks, which were their ultimate downfall. In the 90th minute, Arsenal’s defender Amanda Ilestedt rose up and headed home for the Swedes and broke South African hearts as she scored Sweden’s second goal.
It ended 2-1 on the day. Banyana Banyana put up a gutsy performance against the Swedes, but it was not enough as they fell to the Swedes in the dying moments of the encounter.
Undoubtedly, Banyana Banyana feel disheartened as the game was there for the taking or a point at least.
It is back to the drawing board for Desiree Ellis. The search for the first World Cup win continues for South Africa who take on Argentina on Friday 28 July in their second group match.
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