South Africa traveled to take on Burkina Faso in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on Saturday as Bafana Bafana were held to a late draw in an exciting clash.
The match got off to a frantic start as Mpho Makola collected the ball just inside the Burkina Faso box after three minutes. The midfielder miss controlled, however, before he could gather and shoot.
Makola blazed over the bar with another effort a few minutes later before Burkina Faso were controversially awarded a penalty for an alleged handball by Eric Mathoho.
Jonathan Pitroipa duly stepped up but his spot kick was well saved by Bafana stopper Itumeleng Khune with 10 minutes of action played.
Khune was in the thick of it as he made another save after 12 minutes before it was the turn of Burkina Faso’s goalkeeper as he made a fine save of his own to deny Hlompho Kekana.
There was a scare for Bafana as Thabo Matlaba came close to putting the ball into his own net following a cross before Makola forced another save off his well-taken free kick.
Khune was forced into making two further saves as the Bafana Captain just about cleared the ball off the line before the interval to a breathless first half was called.
The second period began just as lively as the first had been as Eleazar Rodgers flashed wide for South Africa with a header on the 50 minute mark before Burkina Faso began to do assert themselves. Bertrand Traore was causing problems as he forced Khune into two saves in quick succession before Khune was again called into action after 62 minutes.
Kekana fired another effort over the bar for Bafana before Oupa Manyisa missed a glorious chance as he skied over following a great ball across goal.
With just 10 minutes to go, Dean Furman netted a crucial goal from a free kick as Bafana surged into a late lead. The goal came following a corner as Furman fired through a sea of players to find the net.
With just three minutes left in the game a wild lunge by Manyisa gifted Burkina Faso a second penalty. Alain Traore duly stepped up, but he fired the penalty over the bar as Bafana survived from the spot yet again.
With just extra time still to play, Bafana’s hearts were broken as Banou Diawara netted off following a scramble in the South African box. It proved the last meaningful action of the game as the scores ended level a 1-1.
