Nigel Matongerere
31 October 2009
A late strike from Antonio Hagi helped Mozambique beat South Africa in the COSAFA Senior Challenge third place match play off at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday.
With the poorly attended match seemingly heading for extra time Hagi took advantage of a mistake by South Africa goalkeeper Buti Khoza to score the priceless winner with eight minutes to go.
Khoza made a mess of a back pass from his defender Keamohetse Wolff and played a poor clearance that fell into the path of Luis Campira.
Campira then laid the ball to Hagi, who muscled his way into the box past two South Africa defenders and slotted a low drive to the right of a diving Khoza.
The goal was enough to help the Mambas win the bronze medal and pocket the R150 000 prize money. South Africa pocketed R75 000.
Earlier in the first half South Africa had started strongly with Oupa Manyisa, Rudzani Ramadzuli and Bongane Thwala doing all the running in the midfield.
South Africa, who fielded a development side for the tournament however, failed to capitalise on this good spell and did not test Mambas' goalkeeper Albino Cossa.
The Mambas then started to settle down as the match progressed.
Mozambique should have found the opener after 33 minutes when striker Ruby Pambara found himself unmarked at the far post with the entire defence at sea.
Pambara somehow lost his footing at the crucial moment and allowed the South Africans to recover and clear the ball away from danger.
A minute later Helder Pelembe then tried a crack at goal from long range. He missed Khoza's crossbar agonizingly close.
At this stage the Mambas had shown their intention to win the match.
Man-of-the-match Josemar Machaise also started to make his presence felt on the left flank for Mozambique.
Machaise made life difficult for SA defender Sakhile Mhlangu with his slick dribbling skills and pace.
At the other end Ramadzuli almost gave South Africa the lead against the run of play, when he headed over an Eric Mathoho cross at the stroke of halftime.
After the breather the Mambas continued with their search for an opener with Machaise and Hagi proving a constant threat whenever they had possession.
Mambas' Dutch coach Maria Nooij then brought on Domingos Muchele for Pelembe to add some fresh legs into his attack.
South Africa's coaches Khabo Zondo and Simon Ngomane responded by bringing in Lennox Bacela for Thwala after 78 minutes.
At this stage South Africa were just absorbing everything the Mambas were throwing at them in the hope of hanging on for penalty shoot-outs.
That is when Hagi popped up with his sucker punch ensuring the Mambas returned to Maputo as the third best team in the region.
Mozambique . . . . (0) 1
South Africa . . . . . . . 0
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