Banyana Banyana Win

But the visitors didn’t walk away empty handed, after netting a vital away goal to  effectively draw the encounter 2-all, before the second leg of this knock-out Olympic Qualifier.

The match got underway after the FIFA Fair Play campaign flag introduced the national anthems of
Zimbabwe and

South Africa, but the home camp took to the field without standing coach or captain.

Complications faced the selectors ahead of Sunday’s crucial first leg of a second-round knock-out qualifier against the Mighty Warriors, when SAFA confirmed that erstwhile captain Portia Modise had been signed by Dutch outfit Fortuna Football Club.

Modise’s unavailability for the crucial clash was in addition to the ineligibility of the red-carded Lena Mosebo, coincidently in the USA busy trailing for a league side there.

And on Sunday, national coach Augustine Makalakalane was in the stands serving the first of a harsh five-match side-line ban imposed after being adjudged to have insulted match officials, following contentious circumstances in Banyana’s previous qualifier against

Equatorial Guinea.

But other than a rare clear shot on target which barely passed over the cross-bar in the 33rd minute, the visitors had little to show for their strategy of soaking up Banyana’s attack in the first half.

By contrast,

Zimbabwe were under pressure immediately, with Veronica Phewa winning Banyana Banyana a free kick, and two shots on goal, within the first 5 minutes.

The team demonstrated the fast attacking style that stand-in coach Fran Hilton-Smith insisted on in pre-match interviews, with a combination of good ball control and good passing keeping them ahead of the game.

The home girls matched neat 1-2 passes with lighting speed, regularly exposing the traveler’s defence to the robust support of a vocal Caledonian stadium.

With

South Africa in commanding form, Rose Jijane fell awkwardly on the stroke of the 18th minute, but played on despite suffering in obvious pain.

Lethal striker Belinda Nkosi from Vodacom national league champions Palace Super Falcons started from the bench, and was introduced after 30 minutes as the coach decided that more experience was needed.

Nkosi duly won a penalty after being fouled in the box seven minutes before half-time, and taking the shot, Nompumelelo Nyandeni struck the penalty hard and low into the right-hand corner, catching

Zimbabwe’s keeper flat-footed for a well-deserved lead ahead of half-time.

Theresa Biggs came on for injured veteran Rose Jijane on the right wing as the second-half resumed, but a more determined

Zimbabwe saw several attacking forays into Banyana’s goal area.

A disturbed defense saw the tall strong Zimbabweans score eight minutes into the second half, when a failed attempt to clear the ball drew keeper Itumeleng Chimeloane away from her posts, only for a successful cross to be headed into an open net.

Then a free kick passed to Janine van Wyk’s powerful right boot came good effect, as she thundered her fourth goal for Banyana through a cluttered

Zimbabwe defence to ignite a resurgent home team.

With the scores at 2-1 in favour of

South Africa, the double weight of goals scored away from home favoured the Zimbabweans, and their play became increasingly physical.

Yet only commitment and skilled play from the visiting keeper prevented Banyana Banyana from capitalising on several occasions, as the home team camped in the Zimbabwean half, bolstered by the proud songs ringing around the stadium.

With ten minutes to go, Belinda Nkosi found herself with the ball in front of the goals, but she was dispossessed before having an opportunity to shoot. Shortly afterwards Veronica Phewa was cruelly denied, and the Zimbabweans ultimately managed to keep the margin down to one goal.

Stand-out performance of the match was by the Zimbabwean keeper, who time and again denied the home girls from advancing the goal score, while replacement left back Gloria Thato, in for Lena Mosebo, performed with calm assurance and clever tactical positioning.

The away leg of the qualifier

Zimbabwe takes place on 17 June, by which time Modise may again be available for selection. But the minds of the tactical team will already be planning to avoid the dangers that this second fixture presents.