National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Lesego Madiya made the kick off which started today's match. A throw-in in the 3rd minute of the game was made by Freddy Way with Sammy Longden as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. Benjamin Love didn't miss a given chance and shot in short distance 1-0 via right post in the game's 4th minute. U21 Senegal's supporters showed their exhuberating excitement! Freddy Way made in the 12th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Dominic Blake immediately put the ball in play. U21 South Africa's Michael Smith played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Benjamin Love in the 14th minute of play. In the 18th minute U21 South Africa were awarded a corner. Ricky Mkhonza went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Ricky Mkhonza got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Vincent Rawson quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Michael Smith showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sammy Longden, who was totally free with the ball in the 21st minute. Vincent Rawson came out of the goal in the 23rd minute to try and stop a shot by U21 South Africa's Lesego Madiya. But to his dismay, Lesego Madiya quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. Michael Smith showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Benjamin Love in the 27th minute of the match. After 30 minutes, Meshack Mathibe mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 South Africa and the U21 Senegal players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 32nd minute of the game Dominic Blake made a throw-in which Sammy Longden played forward. Lesego Madiya blasted a shot towards the goal in the 33rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Vincent Rawson having to make a save. The supporters of U21 Senegal booed when U21 South Africa was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 34 match minutes in a wonderful position. Shakeel Tshabalala didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 41st minute, James Thebile left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The U21 South Africa fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-3. Des Beverley received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Michael Smith tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The U21 Senegal players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. U21 South Africa were winning 1-3.

Lesego Madiya made a well adjusted shot against goal in the 55thth minute coming free in front of the goal, but Vincent Rawson would not let the ball come through at any expense and made a nice save by the left post. With his leg Vincent Rawson managed to avoid a goal in the 57thth minute, when U21 South Africa's Lesego Madiya fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 60 minutes into the match, U21 South Africa's goal looked a bit too open when Dominic Blake came free, but Michael Smith reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 61st minute, Benjamin Love ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Michael Smith was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-3. U21 South Africa made a substitution. Dumisane Sono replaced Samuel Roberts. James Thebile's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Vincent Rawson read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 69th minute of play. In the 71st minute Shaun Coulson shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Michael Smith saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 71st minute Shaun Coulson shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Michael Smith saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 74 minutes into the match, U21 Senegal's goalkeeper Vincent Rawson had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Mpenza Okpara. After 74 played minutes U21 South Africa got a freekick which was hit by Dean Bandura. 78 minutes into the game, Freddy Way threw the ball into play from the sideline. U21 South Africa's Mawetu Mbule quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. In the 80th minute, James Thebile ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Vincent Rawson was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-4. U21 Senegal's Vincent Rawson proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 88th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Senegal from getting a goal against them. Vincent Rawson didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 88th minute, which inside left pole to 2-5. A throw-in in the 96th minute of the game was made by Dominic Blake with Sammy Longden as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched U21 South Africa eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.