Mphela Strike Stuns Egypt

March 26th, 2011 | by: Matt | Comments Off

South Africa 1 Egypt 0

Wow. Just wow. Katlego Mphela struck with the last kick of the match, deep into second half injury time to defeat Egypt, 1-0, and spark scenes of pandemonium in Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.

The game seemed destined to peter out to a nil-nil draw, with Egypt controlling the majority of possession as the clock dwindled towards the end of three allocated minuted of injury time. While the Pharaohs pressed and probed a firm Bafana back line, there seemed little chance South Africa would be able to break forward and get the winner, with time, and their form to that point both conspiring against them.

Cometh the hour, cometh the Katlego. Letsholonyane won the ball in the middle of the park and burst forward, shrugging off a challenge before drawing more defenders and finally splitting the Egyptian back line with a wonderful through ball. Although Mphela seemed to be under the control of the Pharaohs center-back, he showed tremendous strength to shake the defender before guiding a precise strike into the side netting, leaving Egyptian keeper El-Hadary lying on the Ellis Park turf in stunned disbelief.

Mphela peeled off to the corner while the Bafana bench erupted into pure mayhem, and the stadium roared. Pitso Mosimane sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate, while Khune seemed to scarcely believe what he just witnessed from his own goal mouth. Pure bliss for the South Africans, who needed the full three points, while Egypt will be devastated they came away with nothing, having totally controlled the match at various stages. While they may think they deserved at least a point, Mphela’s goal goes to show that you have to play to the final whistle, as a break in concentration for the last 10 seconds has put Egypt’s quest to qualify for a tournament they have won three times in a row in serious doubt.

South Africa and Pitso Mosimane will be delighted with the result, three points being crucial in their quest to qualify for the next edition of the AFCON. What a match, what a finish.

Highlights to Come Once They Are Available