The SA senior women’s national team (Banyana Banyana) finished 10th in the Cyprus Women’s Cup after going down 1-2 to Finland in the 9th/10th place playoff which took place in Nicosia on Wednesday.
Played in very wet conditions due to persistent rain, the South Africans failed to find their feet from the first whistle while Finland looked more comfortable, controlling the match with ease.
It was not a surprise when they took the lead in the seventh minute through Juliett Kempi when the South African defence failed to clear the ball.
A short while later Banyana Banyana got a good chance to equalise when Refiloe Jane left her marker and lobbed the ball over the Finland goalkeeper but it went over the bar.
In the 19th minute South Africa was under attack again from the physically strong and quick-running Finnish players, but Roxanne Barker pulled off a great save to deny the opposition.
Three minutes later Finland was back at it and this time aided by the errors in the Banyana Banyana defence – a back pass from Janine Van Wyk found the opponents but the danger was thwarted.
In the 28th minute, South Africa was nearly punished when Barker misjudged a ball from the corner kick but Amanda Dlamini saved her blushes when she headed out for another corner.
But Banyana Banyana could do nothing in the 30th minute when a cross from the left was not dealt with and found Anna Westerlund who slotted amid a cluster of players to give Finland a 2-0 half time lead.
At the start of the second half, South Africa’s head coach brought on Leandra Smeda for Lerato Kgasago.
The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana started this half the better of the two sides, controlling the proceedings.
But it was Finland who nearly found the back of the net in the 56th minute but found Barker solid in goals pulling off a great save.
In the 62nd minute, substitute Jermaine Seoposenwe – who came on shortly before the break for Disebo Mametja – pulled one back for South Africa as she rounded off Finland goalkeeper Tinja-Rikka Korpela after outsprinting her marker. She has scored the two goals that South Africa has registered in the tournament.
This was after good play from Banyana Banyana – a pass from Portia Modise found Lebogang Ramalepe who released Seoposenwe.
In search of an equaliser, South Africa made a double substitution – Ramalepe and Modise making way for Sanah Mollo and Shiwe Nogwanya.
Seoposenwe came close to finding that equaliser five minutes from the final whistle but her chance went just narrowly wide.
In the 89th minute Finland almost increased their lead when a thunderous long-range shot hit the crossbar leaving the score 2-1 in favour of the Finnish who end the tournament in 9th place while South Africa finish in 10th position.
But it was a much better second half for Vera Pauw’s charges as they took control of the game but could not convert the goals – with a little more composure a goal would have come.
Banyana Banyana: Roxanne Barker (GK), Lebogang Ramalepe (Sanah Mollo), Nothando Vilakazi, Noko Matlou, Janine Van Wyk (c), Amanda Dlamini, Refiloe Jane, Nompulelelo Nyandeni, Lerato Kgasago (Leandra Smeda), Disebo Mametja (Jermaine Seoposenwe), Portia Modise (Shiwe Nogwanya).
Subs: Mputle Ntshetsana, Lerato Kgasago, Tshepiso Olga Mokabane, Kelso Peskin, Alochia Thobokela, Slindile Ngubane, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Shiwe Nogwanya, Rhoda Mulaudzi, Sanna Mollo, Mamello Makhabane, Leandra Smeda
Not considered for the match due to injury: Andile Dlamini (GK) (knee).
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