Wearing the captain’s armband due to the absence of the injured team’s captain, Refiloe Jane, Banyana Banyana forward Thembi Kgatlana scored in additional time to rewrite the history books of South African Women’s Football.
Her goal, thanks to a perfectly-weighted assist from Player of the Match, Hilda Magaia, led Desiree Ellis’ charges to an historic 3-2 win over favourites Italy, knocking the Europeans out of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as the South African’s marched into the round of Last 16 for the first time in history – for both female and male national teams.
The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana arrived at the Wellington Stadium in New Zealand needing nothing but victory, and also hoping Argentina would falter against Group G leaders Sweden in Hamilton.
In the first place, South Africa should not have found themselves in this situation after squandering 1-0 and 2-0 leads against the Swedes and the South Americans, ending in a 2-1 defeat and 2-all draw respectively.
With the two final fixtures playing simultaneously, all four nations had their destiny in their hands, somehow.
Banyana Banyana were unfortunate to fall behind early in the first half (11’) through a Arianna Caruso goal from the penalty spot after defender Karabo Dhlamini was adjudged to have tripped Chiarra Beccari.
The African Champions received a lifeline following an own goal by Benedetta Orsi, who beat her goalkeeper Francesca Durante with a heavily weighted back pass.
And it was game on!
South Africa would take the lead in the 67th minute – Magaia meeting a pass from Kgatlana and slotting past a helpless Durante for a 2-1 lead.
With hearts racing for Banyana Banyana to hold on, it was not to be as they relinquished their lead – like they have done in the past two games against Sweden and Argentina.
This time Caruso (74’) scoring from a corner kick, her second goal of the match, and one that put them back in charge to progress to the next round.
But South Africa was not done yet!
They dug deep and were rewarded with a goal in the 92nd minute that restored their lead – but had to wait for over 10 minutes of additional time to be confirmed victorious.
With hearts racing and eyes glued on both the clock and the referee, it was too much to bear for both benches that were up on their feet and urging their players to fight on some more – one trying to defend the other in search of a goal.
The sound of the final whistle meant South Africa had achieved what many had termed ‘mission impossible’, with contrasting scenes on the field – the South Africans celebrating their history making feat, while the Italians lay sprawled on the field in disbelief and in tears because of their exit.
Banyana Banyana have come a long way, and this was an excellent achievement. Four years ago in their maiden tournament in France, they lost all three games – 3-1, 1-0 and 4-0 to Spain, China and Germany.
But this time around, armed with experience, they suffered defeat once (2-1 vs Sweden), drew once (2-2 vs Argentina) and saved the best for last, winning 3-2 vs Italy.
They also managed six goals in three games – Kgatlana (2), Hilda (2), Linda Motlhalo (1) as well an own goal from Orsi. Kgatlana becomes the first South African to score in back to back World Cup tournaments, and takes her tally to three goals (she netted Banyana Banyana’s only goal in 2019 vs Spain).
“I think there was a time on the line where we had five coaches including the captain giving direction – it was that tough. We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we knew what we were capable of, and we trained the whole couple of days thinking what if we go behind, because we’ve never come from behind. But these girls have just been amazing. I mean I speak through every challenge that they faced in the past, look at WAFCON where no one gave us a chance,” said a delighted Desiree Ellis.
“Today we knew what we were capable of, and they fought like warriors out there. And we said we needed to keep our best players on the pitch, we managed that, but I think this is for everyone back home – people getting up early hours of the morning and they still have to go to work smiling in their cars, because we know the game started at 9:00 AM. This is for all the coaches out there in the league, this is for the coaches that have come before, this for everybody involved in women’s football.”
In the next round, the African Champions will face 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup finalists, the Netherlands, on Sunday, 5 August at the Sydney Football Stadium in Australia.
Kick-off is 04h00 SA Time.
(CentreCircle.online is at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup courtesy of Sasol, sponsors of Banyana Banyana)
