A second-half wonder-goal from Portia Modise wasn’t enough to stop our Banyana Banyana women’s soccer side going down 4-1 to Sweden at the 2012 Olympic Games on Wednesday.
After going into halftime 3-0 down at the City of Coventry Stadium many thought it was all over bar the shouting for Banyana’s opening Group F game.
But Modise, not nicknamed “Bashin” for nothing, clearly had second thoughts as she latched onto a ball just inside the Swedish half in the 60th minute and bashed a blaster past a non-plussed goalkeeper.
It was from 45 metres out and the Swedes looked non-plussed as the ball scorched home.
Banyana will now be down but not out after a plucky performance against the world’s fourth ranked side.
They’re only ranked 61st and could have gone down by a lot more but credit to coach Joseph Mkhonza and captain Amanda Dlamini they refused to lie down.
The first goal came in the seventh minute after a wicked deflection. Then two goals in the space of two minutes hammered in the Swedish domination.
South Africa weren’t without fight though and Modise and Janine van Wyk both went close. After Modise’s super strike gave South Africa hope it wasn’t long however before Lotta Schelin scored her second goal to take the margin back to three goals.
Some said that it would be a thrashing for Banyana but this result will give them some hope, especially that second half where they shared the spoils when it came to goals.
Match statistics said that Banyana had 43% of possession compared to 57% of the Swedes but when it came to heart they gave their all. And that’s what will be key to Team SA’s hopes as the Games get going on Friday.
Next up for Banyana are seventh-ranked Canada in Coventry on Saturday, and then their biggest test of all, against Japan in Cardiff on Tuesday.
Olympic Games Women’s Football Group F (SA Fixtures and Results): Banyana Banyana 1-4 Sweden (Coventry, England) 28 July – 15h45: Banyana Banyana vs Canada (Coventry, England) 31 July – 15h30: Banyana Banyana vs Japan (Cardiff, Wales) Banyana Banyana Squad: No – Position – Name 14 – FW – Sanah Molo 10 – MF – Mary Ntsweng 5 – DF – Janine van Wyk 3 – DF – Nothando Vilakazi 6 – DF – Zamandosi Cele 18 – GK – Thokozile Mndaweni 4 – DF – Amanda Sister 9 – MF – Amanda Dlamini 11 – FW – Noko Matlou 13 – MF – Gabisile Hlumbani 17 – FW – Andisiwe Mgcoyi 8 – MF – Kylie-Ann Louw 7 – FW – Leandra Smeda 2 – MF – Robyn Moodaly 1 – GK – Roxanne Barker 16 – MF – Nompumelelo Nyandeni 15 – DF – Refiloe Jane 12 – FW – Portia Modise Sweden Squad: No – Position – Name 17 – DF – LEVENSTAD M 13 – DF – NILSSON L 12 – MF – HAMMARSTROM M 11 – MF – GORANSSON A 18 – GK – LUNDGREN S 8 – FW – SCHELIN L 4 – DF – SVENSSON A 3 – DF – BERGLUND E 5 – MF – FISCHER N 14 – MF – ALMGREN J 6 – DF – THUNEBRO S 7 – MF – DAHLKVIST L 10 – FW – JAKOBSSON S 15 – MF – SEGER C 2 – DF – SEMBRANT L 16 – FW – EDLUND M 1 – GK – LINDAHL H 9 – MF – ASLLANI K
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