South Africa were crowned Cosafa Cup plate champions after beating Malawi 5-4 on penalties following a 0-0 draw on Friday evening at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
South Africa, effectively using an Under-23 side under coach David Notoane, had been relegated to the plate section after they lost on penalties to Botswana in their opening match.
The first half provided some end-to-end entertainment as both sides had several good scoring chances.
The Malawians started brightly and Bafana keeper Mondli Mpoto had some early work to do as he kept out a sweetly-struck free kick from Gerald Phiri.
At the other end, the hosts were unlucky not to take the lead when Kamohelo Mahlatsi’s header from a corner kick struck the crossbar.
It was then the Flames' turn again as their talisman Gabadinho Mhango fired in a venomous drive from 35-yards out which flew just over goal.
Opportunities continued to come at both ends as Luther Singh missed a great chance for Bafana when he headed wide from close range before Phiri's corner struck the crossbar.
South Africa win the #CosafaPlate after beating Malawi 5 - 4 on penalties! The match had ended goalless after 120 minutes of grueling football pic.twitter.com/lvcrxwaw60
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) June 7, 2019
The visiting side ended the first stanza on top as Mhango's low shot was turned around the post by Mpoto, with the resultant corner nearly ending in an own goal after Katlego Mohamme's header went just over the bar in added time.
After the break, Liam Jordan squandered a decent chance in the 50th minute, but apart from that, the two sides were evenly matched.
With 20 minutes to go, Jordan’s dipping free kick was parried by Malawi keeper Brighton Munthali and when the ball fell kindly for Mahlatsi, a goal seemed on the cards - but from eight yards out he smashed his shot into the stands.
Jordan was at it again a few minutes later after a swift counter attack he fizzed in a near-post drive, but Munthali did well to close the angle and beat the ball away from the danger zone.
That proved to be the last clear chance during regulation time, as the game went to extra time.
After a lacklustre first period, the second half was more lively, Bafana having some good chances, but still unable to score as Mahlatsi and then Gift Links wasted opportunities.
The Flames also had a few openings, but Mpoto did well to snuff out the danger on a couple of occasions.
To penalties it went, and after both teams had missed two kicks each, Charles Petro stepped up to take his spot kick for Malawi only to send sent it crashing into the crossbar to hand Bafana the victory.
African News Agency