Banyana Banyana secure their first point at the Fifa Women’s World Cup after they played out to a thrilling 2-2 draw against Argentina in their second Group G clash at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday.
After goals by Linda Motlhalo and Thembi Kgatlana on either side of halftime in Dunedin, South Africa was on its way to its first World Cup win in five games.
But in the 74th minute, Sophia Braun scored an amazing goal for Argentina, and five minutes later, Nunez’s header tied the game.
South Africa also lost their first game, 2-1 to Sweden, because they gave up the lead and then let Sweden score the game-winner in the last minute.
“It is about taking our chances, making better decisions in the final third. If we take our chances we have a different conversation,” coach Desiree Ellis said.
“Today was a great opportunity to put ourselves a step ahead, but it is not all lost.”
Even though this is Argentina’s fourth World Cup, they have never won in 11 tries.
“I am really proud of how we came back, we never gave up. We showed a lot of heart,” said Braun, Argentina’s US-born full-back.
Argentina and South Africa both have one point because they lost their first games in New Zealand.
Favourites Sweden and Italy both have three points before they play each other in Wellington on Saturday. The last round of games on August 2 will decide who wins the tournament.
Banyana Banyana missed a great chance to win their first World Cup game. They had already gotten through the first half without their captain, Refiloe Jane, who got hurt.
She was taken away on a stretcher, and Kgatlana took the armband.
Kgatlana, who was able to play in the World Cup even though she had a torn achilles tendon, set up the first goal when she ran past the Argentine defence and passed to Motlhalo, who scored after 30 minutes.
The Argentina players stopped running back because they thought Kgatlana was offside in the buildup, and at first, the flag did go up.
But the goal was given after review, putting South Africa in the lead.
Argentina’s Paulina Gramaglia hit the crossbar with a cross-shot, and Kgatlana put the ball in the net again in the final seconds of the first half, but this time it was ruled out because she was offside.
Chances came from both sides in the second half, but South Africa seemed to be out of reach when Racing Louisville forward Kgatlana put in Jermaine Seoposenwe’s low cross just after the hour mark.
Argentina looked like they were going to lose, but Braun beat custodian Kaylin Swart with a great shot from 25 yards out after controlling a clearance. This gave Argentina hope.
Five minutes later, they tied the score when Yamila Rodriguez sent a cross to Nunez, who headed it in to make it 2-2.
Photo by EPA/RITCHIE B. TONGO
