5 August 2019 – A 3-1 win over Mozambique gave the South AfricanU20 Women’s National Team (Basetsana), their 3rd win 2019 inaugural COSAFA U20 Championships as the finished top of group A ahead of the semi finals on 7 August 2019.
The first half started rather tough for Basetsana as Mozambique took the lead in the 7th minute from a Leia Lungile goal. The South African’s quickly regrouped and managed to get an equalizer from Oratile Mokwena goal, in the 4th minute.
The Mozambiquan goalkeeper Lina Matshine was the huge difference in keeping South Africa from scoring again, after her numerous efforts to deny the hosts the lead.
Tyler-Bree Joss had the wind knocked out of her in the 30th minute of the match, when she had to be substituted for fear of a concussion. Zethembiso Vilakazi came on for Joss, and to get Basetsana more positive moves upfront.
Shakeerah Jacobs came on in the second half for Tshegofatso Motlogelwa and frustrated the visitors enough to get the lead for South Africa in 74th minute.
South Africa got their third goal in the dire stages of the match to finish top of Group A. They will now face Zambia or Tanzania in the semi finals.
“Mozambique gave us quiet a hard time especially in the first half. They are small in frame and very quick, which is something we had anticipated.
I want to congratulate their goalkeeper who I believe really made us feel very uncomfortable with her numerous saves;”said Simphiwe Dludlu.
“I believe we had a much better second half, after we had to talk to the players and remind them to keep it simple and focus only on the fundamentals of the game.
We have a few more things to work on in training but I believe that we have made a lot of progress from our first match to now. We look forward to facing one of two very strong teams in the semi finals, and again I want to emphasize that our main mission here is to build a formidable squad that can play beautiful football and not only create goals but score them too;”concluded Dludlu.
Basetsana starting XI: Kaydee Windvogel(GK)(C);Tyler- Bree Joss (Zethembiso Vilakazi 30”); Fikile Magama; Lonathemba Mhlongo; Siyamthanda Mbatha ; Serenity Warner; Oratile Mokwena; Miche Minnies ; Jessica Wade; Refilwe Maseko (Ember Edwards 82’); Tshegofatso Motlogelwa (Shakeerah Jacobs 58’)
Basetsana subs: Robyn Coetzee (GK); Ayanda Ncube; Sarah Walker; Phumla Simelane; Ember Edwards; Zethembiso Vilakazi.
Not available: Siphesihle Dlamini (GK); Lebogang Ntabeni