Bafana Bafana suffered a 1-0 loss to Mozambique in their opening COSAFA Cup encounter on Wednesday afternoon.
Bafana featured a strong starting line-up, which included Victor Letsoalo, Kabelo Dlamini, Sanele Barns, Ime Okon, Puso Dithejane and goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa.
Mbanjwa nearly gifted the opener to Mozambique after 13 minutes when he fumbled a cross into the area, but forward Baptista Francisco couldn’t capitalise.
Bafana started to open up ten minutes later and were denied the lead when a snap shot from the far side of the area by Vuyo Letlapa hit the upright, before Letsoalo also close as well when his glancing header shaved the far post of the net minutes later.
With the South Africans dominating, the Mambas turned to the bench just past the half-hour mark and introduced Fernando Domingos Jose ahead of Alcidio Raice.
Dithejane granted the Mambas the opener ten minutes in the second half, but fortunately the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened and called an offside.
Bafana looked to come in their own amidst the slow start to the second half, but struggled to breakdown the Mambas’ defensive-block.
The Mambas still enjoyed momentum and took the lead in the closing quarter when Antonio Sumbane fired in a loose ball from the back-post as Bafana fluffed their lines.
Bafana made a triple change ten minutes from time in a quest for the equaliser in Wandile Duba, Boitumelo Radiopane and Simon Ramabu.
The move looked to have livened the hosts up after they earned a penalty following a hand-ball off a shot by Duba, but it was overturned by the referee following a VAR check, as Mozambique held on for the win.
Confirmed line-ups:
Bafana Bafana: Mbanjwa, Dithejane, McCarthy, Okon, Moralo, Dlamini, Letlapa, Sebelebele, Mkhize, Barns, Letsoalo
Subs: Mpoto, Msani, Mfolozi, Duba, Ramabu, Shabalala, Radiopane, Mngonyama, Gcaba, Nemtajela, Johnson, Mcaba