Two goals in either half from forwards Thembi Kgatlana and Hilda Magaia were enough to give the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in an international friendly played in Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday (15 July 2023).
This was the final fixture for both teams ahead of the start of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, kicking off on Thursday, 20 August.
Kgatlana struck in the 32nd minute following an assist from midfielder Kholosa Biyana, while Magaia sealed victory in 10 minutes after the recess with a well taken free-kick.
“A win gives you a lot of confidence, and the way we played also, I think will give us a lot of confidence. We expected a little bit different (from Costa Rica), but we also expected that they might go five at the back because that is some of the of the formations that they play in – we had to break them down you know, but I felt at times we moved the ball around too slowly,” Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis told SAFA.net
“Our goal that we scored was good movement, good combination play, but we did too little of that and I think on the other hand we need to have a little bit more patience when we’re on the ball to try and move it around because that is one of our strengths.”
The match was in preparation for South Africa’s opening game of the global women’s football showpiece against Sweden on Sunday, 23 July.
“Look we said there’s a couple of similarities between Costa Rica and Sweden but today they (Costa Rica) played a little bit different as I said in the first half, and in the second-half they gave us a little bit more of what we can expect against Sweden loading their sides, transitioning with numbers and we coped with all that but when we received the ball that decision wasn’t that good because we should have gotten behind them a lot more and created a lot more opportunities. But we’re happy with the performance now we can concentrate fully on Sweden,” added Ellis.
The clash was the seventh for South Africa since winning the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco last year.
They have already faced South Americans Brazil on two occasions, tackled World Cup co-hosts Australia, travelled to the Turkish Women’s Cup and played against Uzbekistan and Slovenia, and also went toe to toe with Serbia.
At the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the first match against Sweden in Group H will be followed by clashes with Italy and Argentina.
Banyana Banyana Starting line-up against Costa Rica:
Kaylin Swart (GK), Bongeka Gamede (Tiisetso Makhubela), Bambanani Mbane, Fikile Magama, Sibulele Holweni, Kholosa Biyana (Nomvula Kgoale), Refiloe Jane (c), Linda Motlhalo (Robyn Moodaly), Hilda Magaia (Gabriela Salgado), Jermaine Seoposenwe, Thembi Kgatlana (Noxolo Cesane)
Subs: Andile Dlamini (GK), Kebotseng Moletsane (GK), Gabriela Salgado, Noxolo Cesane, Noko Matlou, Melinda Kgadiete, Tiisetso Makhubela, Robyn Moodaly, Wendy Shongwe
Coach: Desiree Ellis
By Matlhomola Morake
