South Africa…………..1
Paraguay……………….1
20 November 2018 – Reliable Percy Tau scored a last gasp goal as Bafana Bafana and Paraguay shared the spoils in the Nelson Mandela Centenary Celebration Challenge match played at the wet Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday, 20 November 2018.
The match was played at a fast pace in the opening minutes in which both sides creating lots of chances but fatigue took over in the second half with little goalmouth action from the two sides; this was until the Tau sucker punch.
Paraguay took the lead on the 31stminute through Federico Santander but despite being frustrated for most of the second half, Tau had the last laugh as he beat a static Paraguay defence with the very last touch to restore parity between the two sides.
Played in persistent drizzling rains, Bafana Bafana started on the front foot and could have opened the account in the second minute but Percy Tau’s snap shot was saved by Antony Silva.
Paraguay earned a corner moments later as they fashioned their own attack but Bafana Bafana cleared the danger.
Tau was always proving a thorn in the flesh and his speed was proving a nightmare for the visitors.
But it was the visitors who created the most clear cut chance on the 15thminute but after beating Darren Keet in goals for Bafana Bafana, the attempt came off the upright and back into play with Paraguay players already celebrating.
It then became a ding dong affair with Vincent Pule unleashing a long range shot that went narrowly wide.
Paraguay then broke through as Bafana Bafana were caught on a counter attack with Federico Santander scoring a Darren Keet spill on the 31stminute.
The goal seems to have re-energised the visitors who took advantage of the tiring hosts and twice came close to adding to their advantage. They hit the upright and next Bafana Bafana defence had to make a last ditch clearance to leave the score at 1-0 at half time.
Tebogo Mokoena could have equalised just before the half-time whistle but delayed shooting with the gaping goal at his mercy.
Both teams made several changes at the beginning of the second half and the tempo picked up a bit but there was very little goalmouth action.
However with the match seemingly headed for a 1-0 win for the South Amrican visitors, Tau picked a ball deep inside Paraguay half, dashed towards the goal to plant the shot out of Silva’s reach as the two sides shared the trophy.
SA Starting line up:Darren Keet, Motjeka Madisha, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Innocent Maela, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Lebogang Maboe, Tiyani Mabunda, Tebogo Mokoena, Vincent Pule, Lebo Mothiba, Percy Tau
Subs:Ronwen Williams, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Fortune Makaringe, Sfiso Hlanti, Themba Zwane, Thulani Serero, Dino Ndlovu, Thembinkosi Lorch