Fortune favours brave South Africans
Group BParaguay 2South Africa 2\nAn injury-time penalty by Quinton Fortune earned South Africa a 2-2 draw with Paraguay after coming back from 2-0 down in their opening World Cup Group B match yesterday. Four years ago, appearing in their first World...
Group B
Paraguay 2
South Africa 2
\nAn injury-time penalty by Quinton Fortune earned South Africa a 2-2 draw with Paraguay after coming back from 2-0 down in their opening World Cup Group B match yesterday.
Four years ago, appearing in their first World Cup, the African side were thumped 3-0 by France in the first game and limped out of the tournament with barely a whimper.
Yesterday, excellent goals by Paraguay's Roque Santa Cruz and Francisco Arce put them on the ropes again and left the South Americans already looking forward to a second successive second round appearance.
However, lifted by a 63rd minute own goal by Estanislao Struway, the former African champions laid siege to the Paraguay goal, earning their just rewards when Sibusiso Zuma was brought down by goalkeeper Ricardo Tavarelli and Fortune blasted in the penalty.
Paraguay looked in total control, particularly in the first half, but appeared to run out of steam in the face of the physical South African onslaught.
"I scored my first World Cup goal but it's hard to be happy after being 2-0 up and conceding two," said Santa Cruz.
Coach Cesare Maldini said he was not disappointed but the body language of the team as they trooped off the pitch told a different story.
Maldini refused to blame the absence of suspended goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert for the turnaround but the inspirational 36-year-old will now, more than ever, rue his decision to spit at Brazilian Roberto Carlos in a qualifier.
It all looked to be going so well for the South Americans, as they dominated the first half.
Santa Cruz, who plays for Bayern Munich, had a penalty claim turned down after just 25 seconds and South African 'keeper Andre Arendse made three good saves in the first half.
However, he was at fault for the opening goal after 39 minutes when he came for an Arce free-kick and missed it, allowing Santa Cruz to head into an empty net.
Arce got the second 10 minutes after the break with a clever free-kick that surprised Arendse at his near post and flew into the top corner.
Paraguay, who beat Brazil and drew twice with Argentina in qualifying, looked on course for a well-deserved win but the South Africans showed admirable spirit in fighting back.
Paraguay: Tavarelli; Arce, Gamarra, Ayala, Caceres, Caniza; Struway (Franco 86), Alvarenga (Gavilan 66), Acuna; Santa Cruz, Campos (Morinigo 73).
South Africa: Arendse; Nzama, Carnell, Mokoena, Issa (Mukansi 27), Radebe; Sibaya, Fortune, Mokoena, Zuma; McCarthy (Koumantarakis 78).
Referee: Michel Lubos (Slovakia).
Scorers: Santa Cruz 39, Arce 55; Struway 63 og, Fortune 90 pen.
Yellow cards: Caceres, Caniza, Tavarelli, Franco; Mokoena, Issa, McCarthy, Zuma.
HT: 1-0. Attendance: 25,186.