South Africa 0 – 0 Iraq
A very tightly contested match between the host and an unknown Iraqi team. South Africa enjoyed most of the possession while Iraq were happy to just sit back and defend with the aim of holding the South Africans to a draw. Bafana Bafana coach, Joel Santana started the game with three defensive midfielders in Macbeth Sibaya, Benson Mhlongo and Kagiso Dikgacoi and this meant that the South African front line had very little supply which resulted to a dull goalless draw. South Africa had a few chances but failed to convert. An introduction of Katlego Mashego and Steven Pienaar late in the game proved a positive one as more goal scoring opportunities were created then.
A good start by Santana’s man, but maybe the coach will have to play a more attacking style on Wednesday when Bafana face New Zealand in Rustenburg at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.
New Zealand 0 – 5 Spain
After the dull draw in the opening game at Ellis Park, a lot of fans were hungry for goals and this match didn’t disappoint. Fernando Torres was at his ussual best and managed to score a hat trick in less than 17 minutes, which will go into the history books as the fastest hat trick in the history of the Confederations Cup. Cesc Fabregas added to the tally when he tapped in a beautiful pass from Joan Capdevilla with the New Zealand defenders looking rather lost to make it 4-0 to Spain before the end of the first half.
Having dominated the first half, Spain kept the pressure on the opposition and David Villa lived up to expectations when he grabbed his first of the tournament making it 5 goals for Spain. New Zealand defended better in the second half and managed to limit the scoreline to just 5 – 0. If Spain continue playing this type of football, they might emerge the winners for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009.
New Zealand have time to regroup before they face Bafana on Wednesday. Will Santana go defensive again on this one? I don’t know, I guess that will be answered on Wednesday evening.
Check out the full fixture table here.
June 15th, 2009 at 3:24 am
I think, Bafana bafana played as most of the teams in the World, in fact this is the new style of the world “Defensive” the Africa soccer is considered a very attacking soccer and poor tatic skills, I can see IRAQ didn’t have any real chance to score and in our days it is vital not to suffer goals, speacially playing against Spain, Italy and Brazil, we can’t play the same level of them, but we can surprise them with a strong defense line and counter-attack with Parker, Piennar and etc…
I am supporting this team, even if they loose South Africa must change their mentality and play as everyone is playing now…
Let New Zealand’s boys come!!!!
June 15th, 2009 at 6:53 am
i support spain.i hope it will wion this cup
June 15th, 2009 at 7:30 am
@Vander,
Agreed, our defense was really strong and if we are to beat New Zealand we have to be more attacking, Santana has moulded this team well indeed
June 15th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Bafana played well and i believe that thier style of play will help them in the coming matches against the big Guns like Spain ect. So lets us see the next match against New Zealand. Go ahead and win this one boys!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 15th, 2009 at 9:40 am
@gtiger,
yes let’s stand behind our boys, I’m very confident we’ll win on Wednesday against New Zealand
June 15th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Whilst South Africa enjoyed most of the possession the unrated Iraq managed to hold Bafana Bafana to a draw, this is seen as a defeat. The use of the three defensive midfielders Macbeth Sibaya, Benson Mhlongo and Kagiso Dikgacoi in my opinion did not prevent South Africa from creating goal opportunities, the defense was good and should be maintained and there were in fact sufficient scoring opportunities created. I am greatly concerned about the ability of our forwards to convert as was clearly illustrated in the match. With only Katlego Mashego and Steven Pienaar our pool of strikers seem quite shallow…
January 19th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
i support spain.i hope it will wion this cup