South Africa made their intentions very clear from the first whistle of the match as they attacked VfB Stuttgart from all directions. This was a must win for the locals and they knew that very well however converting chances was still a huge problem.
Coach Thabo Senong’s charges dominated the entire first half with a least four chances created but none where converted. Keletso Makgalwa had many chances but the most outstanding one was in the 30th minute after he managed to wrestle off three defenders and only had the keeper to beat but he shoot the ball very high and over the goal post.
South Africa stared the second half still in pursuit for a goal and made their first tactical substitution in the 49th minute when Masilake Phohlongo was taken off for Teboho Mokoena.
Stuttgart sat back throughout the match and defended everything that South Africa threw at them, in the 55th minute Makgalwa was brought down just inside the box and they cried foul however the referee ruled a play on.
The Germans started asking questions of South Africa on the hour mark and forced a few great saves from goalkeeper Darren Johnson but the score still remained goalless. In the 82nd minute Esmel Dylan scored a beauty for the Germans giving them the 1-0 lead.
“The results of today are very disappointing because we lost the match in a crucial phase, the players have leant a lot today and we will go back to the drawing board in preparation of our next match, but we have to find a way of converting our chances. We created so many chances today and the boys played well but such is football,” said coach Senong.
South Africa will play their third group stage match of the Durban u19 International Tournament on Monday 3 August against AC Milan at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium at 17:15.
South African Starting XI: Darren Johnson; Kabelo Seriba; Tebogo Rahlogo; Lehlohonolo Mohlabai; Tshidiso Monamodi; Zama Ramabuwane; Masilake Phohlongo; Aghmat Ceres; Shane Saralina; Keletso Makgalwa; Lehlohonolo Mtshali (c )
Substitutions: Solomon Letsoenyo; Siyney Mtshweni; Sphesihle Sangweni; Tlou Masegela; Teboho Mokoena; Karabo Ngwenya; Tsebo Tsotetsi; Thulani Nkosi.
VfB Stuttgart Starting XI: Buntic Fabijian; Baloglu Serkan(c ); Dos Santos Benedict; Gmeiner Fabian; Kunz Thomas; Ramaj Dijon; Schlimgen Clemens; Spanoudakis Georgios; Uygun Serkan; Velic Harun; Weber Max