Bafana Bafana were clinical in front of goal on a bumpy Bahir Dar pitch to beat Ethiopia 3-1 in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier.
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇪🇹 1-3 🇿🇦
— CAF (@CAF_Online) October 9, 2021
A crucial victory for Bafana Bafana as they top group G with 7 points! 🔝#WorldCup | #WCQ | @footballethiop | @BafanaBafanapic.twitter.com/IrQqkF8HCc
The result, coupled with Ghana’s victory by the same scoreline over Zimbabwe later in the day, means South Africa lead Group G by a point going into tomorrow night’s clash against the Walias at FNB Stadium.
Having been kept in the game by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams’s two pointblank saves from Abubeker Nasir, Bafana took the lead in first-half injury time thanks to a howler by the hosts’ goalkeeper, after he spilled an inswinging Teboho Mokoena freekick into his own net.
Ethiopia got back on level terms in the 67th minute with a goal of real quality, with Getaneh Kebede curling his free-kick effort over the wall to finally beat SA captain Williams.
Mothiba Mvala put Bafana ahead again with a close-range strike four minutes later as Ethiopia failed to deal with a long thrown-in.
Then substitute striker Evidence Makgopa lobbed the advancing keeper to make it 3-1 when the hosts’ defence switched off again.
Makgopa headed down a clearance, before he was played in behind the defence by Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s header in an aerial one-two.
And despite a match of low-quality chances on a dry and uneven surface, Bafana boss Hugo Broos was happy to see the character of his team, which is unbeaten in his 10 games in charge.
He says: “It was a very difficult game on a very difficult pitch. But I said it to the players before the game that we don’t need a trophy for being a team that plays the best football.
“We showed that character and mentality.
“We weren’t confident on the ball, we looked scared. But that was down to the pitch. It hurt Ethiopia too. They are not a kick-and-rush team, but that’s all you can do on this pitch.”
Despite Bafana not being at their best, the Belgian was all smiles.
When asked if the players stuck to the plan, he joked: “Not 100 percent, but I’m not angry about that right now.
“But again, the team were uncomfortable on this pitch and they fought to win.”