South Africa...... (2)
Jordan 37secs, Malepe 25, Singh 81
Senegal.............. (0) 4
Ibrahima Ndiaye 48, Diange 54 62, 70 Diatta
JOHANNESBURG - Thabo Senong would need to make sure his side maintain a solid performance throughout the entire 90 minutes when they take on Sudan in their final match of Group B.
As failure to do so, might see his Amajita side miss out on an opportunity to qualify for the upcoming Fifa Under-20 World Cup set to take place in South Korea later in the year.
As it stands, Senegal are now top the mini-table of Group B with four points, while Amajita are second with the three points they collected in their first match against Cameroon.
Senong made three changes in his line-up which played to a 3-1 victory in their first match of Group B.
Captain Tercious Malepe returned from his one-match suspension and was paired up with Wiseman Meyiwa in the heart of midfield.
Liam Jordan made his debut appearance in the Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations tournament in a striking role, while Luther Singh, who scored a hat trick in their match, was dropped to the left-wing.
Bidvest Wits’ striker, Phakamani Mahlambi, was played on the right.
Amajita wasted no time, adding numbers moving forward to score an opener of the night under the first minute of the match. Jordan headed home a perfectly delivered cross from Notha Ngcobo from the far side into the area, in the first 37 seconds of the game. He was unmarked inside the box.
That goal brought about frustrations in the Young Lions of Teranga’s camp, who began to add numbers moving forward with the hope of scoring an early equalizer. That equalizer never came though. Amajita were too well organised for their opponents at the back, while continuing to create scoring chance of their own.
Amajita’ second goal came just 20 minutes before halftime, when Singh delivered a superb cross inside the area to Malepe who was unmarked inside the box. The move was started by Malepe who played a past to Singh on the wing before he rushed his way in to the box for a return pass. And when he received it, Malepe did not disappoint. The Orlando Pirates defender slotted it passed the opposition ‘keeper to give Amajita a comfortable lead going into the second period.
In the second period though, Senegal came back fired up to fight for a comeback. And they did that with class, scoring the first two goals in the first nine minutes in of the second half.
Ibrahima Ndiaye was the first one to put himself on Senegal’ score sheet, when he scored a stellar of a set piece just outside the box, while Diange scored a brace to put his side in the lead. Kreppin Diatta scored Senegal’s final goal of the night, while Singh pull one back to give Amajita a fighting chance in the last ten minutes of the game.
But it was all too late as the Young Lions of Teranga walkway with the three points which see them now being top of their group.