Liberia strike late to stun wasteful Bafana

Bafana Bafana paid the price for a staggering array of misses against Liberia last night at Orlando Stadium, as Mohammed Sangare’s late rocket earned the visiting side a 2-2 draw, and put a serious dent in Bafana’s hopes of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

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Bafana were 2-0 up and cruising inside the first 25 minutes of this Group K encounter, Lyle Foster’s double seemingly putting Hugo Broos’ side on course for a comfortable three points.

South Africa, however, missed chance after chance to put the game to bed, and Liberia’s substitutes came to the party to snatch an unlikely point, Tonia Tisdell pulling one back and Sangare striking at the death, sparking pandemonium among the Liberian players and staff.

The result means that Bafana will have to win in Liberia on Tuesday to guarantee themselves a place at the Africa Cup of Nations, while a defeat will leave their hopes in the dust.

Bafana started the game looking a little nervous and Tau was careless in giving away a needless free kick just out side his own penalty area.

Liberia’s Mohammed Kamara stepped up and Ronwen Williams plunged to his right to tip the ball away off the post for a corner.

More clumsy play from Bafana, giving the ball away inside their own half, then saw Terrence Tisdell go down in the box claiming a penalty.

In the 10^th minute, however, Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema instead pointed to the spot at the other end of the pitch. There was little doubt about the decision, as Liberia goalkeeper Tommy Gbayeh Songo clumsily clattered into Tau, after he was put through by a fine pass from Teboho Mokoena.

Foster stepped up, did a little shuffle and sent Songo the wrong way from the spot.

Rising highest

And the Burnley striker was at it again in the 22^nd minute, rising highest from a perfectly-placed Mokoena corner to power a brilliant header past Songo.

Broos’ side could have added more goals before half time, Bongokuhle Hlongwane notably failing to hit the target from about eight metres out with only Songo to beat, and also fizzing a far better solo effort just wide minutes later.

Bafana thought they did have another seven minutes after the break, as Tau curled in a superb free kick, but it was ruled out, because the referee had indicated that the set piece was supposed to be an indirect free kick.

Tau seemed to be on a mission to get a goal of his own, speeding past a couple of defenders, only to be denied by Songo.

Mokoena then smashed an effort inches wide as Bafana continued to dominate, before Tau seemed certain to score as he brilliantly pulled a lobbed pass out of the sky, but then also shot just wide.

And Bafana were made to pay for their profligacy in the 69^th minute as just moments after coming off the bench, Tonia Tisdell lashed in a near post free kick that beat everyone including Williams and nestled in the back of the net.

In the 78^th minute, Songo theatrically pushed over Aubrey Modiba’s free kick, after which Broos gave Sundowns goalscoring sensation Cassius Mailula his Bafana debut, coming on Foster.

But it was Sangare who had the final say, leaving Bafana’s hopes firmly in the balance.