Mutola own goal hands South Africa victory

Matola own goal hands South Africa victory

OWN GOAL: Warriors defender James Matola scored own goal

• Highlanders refuse to release players for national team

• Ndlovu, Nyandoro out of South Africa clash

• Ndlovu gets Warriors recall

• Valinhos spells end of Ndlovu's international career

• Brazilian Valinhos is new Zimbabwe coach

• Zimbabwe set to name Valinhos as new coach

• Zimbabwe to unveil Brazilian coach

• Glory for Under 17s, Mighty Warriors

• Mandigora, Msiska get Warriors jobs

• Zimbabwe's Under 20 team wins COSAFA Cup

• Mapeza's brave Warriors beat Malawi

• Mapeza leaves out foreign-based professionals

• Mapeza, Duvillard to take charge of Warriors

• Mhlauri bitter over Warriors exit

• ZIFA wields axe on Mhlauri

• Mhlauri a mistake, says Chidzambwa

• Warriors fall in Morocco, Mhlauri faces axe

• Mhlauri's fury over Ndlovu no-show

SOUTH Africa came from behind to beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in a dull friendly international encounter at the Germiston Stadium on Tuesday night.

The hastily arranged fixture never reached any great heights as a spectacle, but Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will have been pleased with the spirit shown by his players in the second half to overturn an early deficit.

There was, however, no debut for 17-tear-old Kermit Erasmus, who will have to wait a little longer to see if he can become the youngest ever player in South African national team history after he was an unused substitute on the night.

The Warriors took the lead in the 12th minute thanks to a deflected free-kick from in-form Orlando Pirates striker Gilbert Mushangazhike, who’s powerful drive clipped the wall and wrong-footed Itumeleng Khune in the home goal.

It wasn’t the start the home side wanted and they struggled to impose themselves on the match for the remainder of the opening 45 minutes, but picked up in the second period.

They were rewarded for their efforts in the 73rd minute when debutant Sthembiso Ngcobo forced the ball into the back of the net after Zimbabwe goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro could only parry Bennett Chenene’s shot.

It looked as though the match would remain at 1-1 until a cruel twist of fate for the otherwise excellent James Matola, who bundled the ball into his own net after a cross from Innocent Mdledle to score a own goal, and hand victory to the South Africans. - Kick Off
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
ozzie@newzimbabwe.com