Banyana Banyana through to the semi-finals

Banyana Banyana kept their hopes of qualifying for the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada alive when they beat Algeria 5-1 on Saturday afternoon October 18 at Independence Stadium.

Banyana Banyana needed only a convincing win to proceed to the semi-finals of the African Women’s Championships, which are under way in Namibia. They put on a brave fight as they rampaged Algeria.

A brace by Portia Modise and goals by Sanah Mollo, Mamello Makhabane and Amanda Dlamini sealed the much needed three points and goal difference for Banyana Banyana.

Banyana Banyana started off the strongest, dominating possession in the opening minutes of the game.

Mollo came close to opening the scoring in the 18th minute, but her on-target shot from outside the area deflected off an Algerian defender and went out for a corner.

Banyana Banyana were awarded a penalty, after the Algerian defender handled the ball in the box.

Nompumelelo Nyandeni stepped forward to take the spot kick, but her kick was saved by Kahina Takenint.

Vera Pauw’s charges understood the importance of the match as they continued to pile pressure on Algeria.

Dlamini came close to opening the scoring, but her long range shot was spilled by the keeper, and there was no Banyana Banyana player close to finish off in the 34th minute.

Modise also came close immediately afterwards with another long shot, which fell in the hands of the keeper.

Dlamini made up for her earlier miss, when she put Banyana Banyana in the lead. She received a cross from Modise in the 37th minute, controlled in the box and easily tapped in past the keeper.

Modise extended the lead five minutes later, scoring her 99th goal in National Team colours.

Algeria did not pose much of a threat to the Sasol sponsored women’s national team. They only had about two goalscoring opportunities in the first stanza.

Banyana Banyana returned from the halftime break and continued from where they left off, with Leandra Smeda forcing Takenint to parry her shot out for a corner in the 46th minute.

South Africa continued to control the pace of the match, having countless goalscoring opportunities, before Sanah Mollo scored the third goal in the 70th minute. Makhabane drifted a place kick into goal that confused the defenders and the keeper for the fourth goal for South Africa.

Modise made history when she scored her 100th goal with just minutes remaining, becoming the first South African player to ever reach that mark.