Banyana Banyana threw away a two-goal advantage and let Argentina claw their way back to a 2-2 draw in their second Group G 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup match on Friday.
Fleet-footed Thembi Kgatlana scored the second goal for Banyana Banyana against Argentina to give the South Africans hope of a first win in the tournament, but it was not to be.
South Africa’s talented number 10 Linda Motlhalo scored the opening goal in the 29th minute to silence Argentina fans at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Kgatlana beat the offside trap and made an excellent pass for Motlhalo to side-foot the ball with her left leg into the net.
The goal lifted the gloomy mood in the Banyana Banyana team after Captain Refiloe “Fifi” Jane was stretchered off with an ankle injury midway in the first half.
Kholosa Biyana came in for the injured Fifi and immediately added steel to the midfield.
However, Biyani’s hard tackling earned her a yellow card – ruling her out of the next game.
Hard-tackling Biyani was substituted in the second half.
Argentina had been pinned back for long periods and only managed their first shot on goal midway into the second half.
But in the 73rd minute, Argentina’s Sophia Braun let rip from distance to beat Kaylin Swart in goal for Banyana to make it 2-1.
Romina Stefania Núñez equalised for Argentina with a glancing header in the 78th minute.
