Football: Mali dashes Young Zebras� hopes
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Wednesday May 28, 2014 11:23
Yesterday, striker, Hadji Drame scored the only goal of the match in the 90th minute for Mali to leave multitudes of local supporters disappointed at the UB Stadium.
Young Zebras can now only finish the tournament with four points. They lost to Nigeria and Tanzania before a 1-1 draw against South Africa. Despite ending up on the losing side in the Mali match, the Young Zebras played with confidence for the first time in the tournament. Coach, Ricardo Marape made a change in the starting line up, giving Bakang Mpatane a run ahead of Ethan Colliop in the attacking role.
The decision looked spot on as the nippy attacking midfielder combined well with forwards, Resaobaka Thatanyane and Walter Setiko. Setiko started a brilliant move in the first half and set up Brian Mankanku, but the midfielder’s shot went narrowly wide. Mali also had some good moments with Moustapha Yara looking dangerous every time he approached the Young Zebras’ box. His trickery gave Zebras’ defence some scary moments.
Minutes into the second half, Marape made a double substitution, introducing Colliop and Katlego Mokgethi for Mpatane and Elton Ditshane. However, it was Mali who nearly got the lead soon after. Young Zebras goalkeeper, Ryan Brown failed to communicate with his defence, giving Drame an opportunity. But Brown recovered well to save.
The Young Zebras continued to push forward and Thatanyane’s header sliced the crossbar from a corner kick. Substitute, Mokgethi forced a brilliant save from Mali goalkeeper, Bassidiki Coulibaly moments later. However Drame broke Young Zebras’ hearts with a last minute goal. Zebras will now take on Swaziland in the last game at the SSKB Stadium tomorrow.