Botafogo 0-1 South Africa: Bafana Continue To Improve In Brazil

Bafana Bafana kept their unbeaten record in Brazil yesterday when they beat a Botafogo 'B' side 1-0.

Mar 21, 2010 1:00:00 PM

More On :  South Africa
Siphiwe Tshabalala - South Africa

Siphiwe Tshabalala's winning goal against former national team coach Joel Santana's side at the Engenhao Stadium in Rio de Janeiro came in the 44th minute.

The match, which Santana had earlier described as a 'practice' ahead of their crucial league match against Flamengo later today, was played behind closed doors.

Don't Miss

Uruguayan international striker Lois Abreu, who is currently suspended by the Brazilian League, was in Santana's squad, along with other Botafogo first team players, goalkeeper Renan, Wellington, Alessandro, Eduardo and Gabriel.

Abreu was in the thick of things from the first whistle and tested Itumeleng Khune as early as the 8th minute, but the Bafana defence held firm. The South Africans began to gain the upper hand as the game progressed.

In the 25th minute Katlego Mphela was thwarted in the box and in the 38th minute Tshabalala failed to get onto the end of a great cross by Siboniso Gaxa, but then made amends six minutes later.

Bafana kept up the pressure in the second-half and had scoring opportunities  Abreu said after the game that he was pleased to play against Bafana Bafana as Uruguay is in the same World Cup group as the South Africans and will play the hosts on June 16.

Santana was not on his side's bench for the game and left matters to his assistants, Valinhos and Jair Ventura.  Reports say Santana sat talking to Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira throughout the match.

Tshabalala had an excellent game overall, while Teko Modise's performance was a definite improvement on his poor display against Cruzeiro on Wednesday night.
Follow Goal.com on Twitter
Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
Comments
3 Comments
 
Advertisement
play pause open close
Inside Goal.Com
  1. Capello remains one of the greats of the game Capello remains one of the greats of the game

    After tasting success wherever he had gone previously, the coach will look upon his time at Wembley as an incomplete job rather than a complete failure

  2. Can Suarez repeat Cantona's grand comeback? Can Suarez repeat Cantona's grand comeback?

    The divisive Uruguayan can look to history when he starts against United on Saturday for the first time since receiving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra

  3. Key battles: Manchester United v Liverpool Key battles: Manchester United v Liverpool

    The former Reds defender believes that the Uruguayan must put controversy to the back of his mind when his team face the champions

  4. The importance of Champions League qualification The importance of Champions League qualification

    The Ruhr side's remarkable run in Europe's elite tournament saw their revenue unexpectedly soar last season, but some teams are structured to depend on such results to survive

  5. Cartoon: Capello's managerial merry-go-round Cartoon: Capello's managerial merry-go-round

    Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day ...

 
Advertisement
Advertisement