Pienaar hobbles off as Bafana down the Poles
7 June 2009, 07:30
South Africa (1) 1
(Fanteni 6th min)
Poland 0
A confidence-boosting victory for Bafana Bafana ahead of the Confederations Cup was marred slightly on Saturday by a late injury to key midfielder Steven Pienaar.
Pienaar hobbled away from a challenge that looked innocuous with 15 minutes to go, and had to be helped back to the Bafana bench, suffering an apparent problem with his right ankle.
With Teko Modise sitting out Saturday's match with a leg muscle problem, Bafana coach Joel Santana now has worries over his two most skillful midfielders, with the Confederations Cup opening match against Iraq just seven days away.
Pienaar had a major hand in the only goal of the game on Saturday, and one only had to look at the rest of Bafana's solid yet cumbersome midfield, to realise how much this side needs his creative play.
Santana picked a side, on paper at least, sorely lacking in attacking intent, with three defensive midfielders strung across the centre of the park. With Siphiwe Tshabalala available, it was bizarre that Santana chose to start with Benson Mhlongo, Kagiso Dikgacoi and MacBeth Sibaya.
Then again Pienaar's creativity was all Bafana needed after just six minutes against the Poles.
'Schillo' gathered the ball in central midfield, and slid a delicate through ball to Bernard Parker.
Parker slightly scuffed his shot but it fell perfectly to Thembinkosi Fanteni, who rifled into an empty net, although it was from a suspiciously offside position.
It was the Maccabi Haifa striker's second goal in 18 appearances for his country.
Poland coach Leo Beenhakker picked a distinctly second-string side for this game, with attacking talent like Ebi Smolarek and Ireneusz Jelen, nowhere to be seen.
Instead, the Dutch coach plumped for Brazil-born Roger Guerreiro and young Poland-based striker Robert Lewandowski in attack.
It was midfielder Slawomir Peszko who went closest for Poland in the first half, however, his shot was gathered by Itumeleng Khune at the second attempt.
In general, Matthew Booth and Aaron Mokoena coped comfortably with Poland's rather laboured attacks. Booth, in particular, impressed with his clearances.
Parker was full of energy for Bafana, buzzing all over the pitch and occasionally dazzling with his trickery, while Pienaar's passing was typically assured.
But they still created little of note for the rest of the half, a couple of wayward efforts from Parker and Fanteni aside.
Some exceptionally petty refereeing from Zimbabwean Tendayi Bwanya was noted.
Pienaar was booked for kicking the ball away, while Polish midfielder Jacek Krzynowek received a yellow card for taking too long on a throw-in.
Poland came out for the second half looking a little more sprightly, and Guerreriro's long-range effort was well held by Khune.
But Bafana then wasted a glorious opportunity, Fanteni's brilliant spin and pass sending Parker away, but in trying to lift the ball over the keeper, he only succeeded in missing the target.
Still, Santana can be happy with his side's defensive organisation, and victory can only take them into the Iraq game in high spirits.
(Fanteni 6th min)
Poland 0
A confidence-boosting victory for Bafana Bafana ahead of the Confederations Cup was marred slightly on Saturday by a late injury to key midfielder Steven Pienaar.
Pienaar hobbled away from a challenge that looked innocuous with 15 minutes to go, and had to be helped back to the Bafana bench, suffering an apparent problem with his right ankle.
With Teko Modise sitting out Saturday's match with a leg muscle problem, Bafana coach Joel Santana now has worries over his two most skillful midfielders, with the Confederations Cup opening match against Iraq just seven days away.
Pienaar had a major hand in the only goal of the game on Saturday, and one only had to look at the rest of Bafana's solid yet cumbersome midfield, to realise how much this side needs his creative play.
Santana picked a side, on paper at least, sorely lacking in attacking intent, with three defensive midfielders strung across the centre of the park. With Siphiwe Tshabalala available, it was bizarre that Santana chose to start with Benson Mhlongo, Kagiso Dikgacoi and MacBeth Sibaya.
Then again Pienaar's creativity was all Bafana needed after just six minutes against the Poles.
'Schillo' gathered the ball in central midfield, and slid a delicate through ball to Bernard Parker.
Parker slightly scuffed his shot but it fell perfectly to Thembinkosi Fanteni, who rifled into an empty net, although it was from a suspiciously offside position.
It was the Maccabi Haifa striker's second goal in 18 appearances for his country.
Poland coach Leo Beenhakker picked a distinctly second-string side for this game, with attacking talent like Ebi Smolarek and Ireneusz Jelen, nowhere to be seen.
Instead, the Dutch coach plumped for Brazil-born Roger Guerreiro and young Poland-based striker Robert Lewandowski in attack.
It was midfielder Slawomir Peszko who went closest for Poland in the first half, however, his shot was gathered by Itumeleng Khune at the second attempt.
In general, Matthew Booth and Aaron Mokoena coped comfortably with Poland's rather laboured attacks. Booth, in particular, impressed with his clearances.
Parker was full of energy for Bafana, buzzing all over the pitch and occasionally dazzling with his trickery, while Pienaar's passing was typically assured.
But they still created little of note for the rest of the half, a couple of wayward efforts from Parker and Fanteni aside.
Some exceptionally petty refereeing from Zimbabwean Tendayi Bwanya was noted.
Pienaar was booked for kicking the ball away, while Polish midfielder Jacek Krzynowek received a yellow card for taking too long on a throw-in.
Poland came out for the second half looking a little more sprightly, and Guerreriro's long-range effort was well held by Khune.
But Bafana then wasted a glorious opportunity, Fanteni's brilliant spin and pass sending Parker away, but in trying to lift the ball over the keeper, he only succeeded in missing the target.
Still, Santana can be happy with his side's defensive organisation, and victory can only take them into the Iraq game in high spirits.
- This article was originally published on page 28 of The Cape Argus on June 07, 2009
Johannesburg
