National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725,
Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Themba Takane showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Uwe Strunck in the 3rd minute of the match. After 3 played minutes Austria got a freekick which was hit by Ovidiu Adrian. Dennis Köllner made a fantastic save in the 5th minute, when Okoyomon Charles Pinazas sent off a good shot on target. Themba Takane showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Meikel Zommer, who was totally free with the ball in the 6th minute. When the match clock showed 8 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Gordon Aigner sped through South Africa's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Themba Takane. The audience thought a goal was coming when Johannes Bartlett got free with Dennis Köllner in the 13th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Meikel Zommer in the 14th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Themba Takane saved South Africa from getting behind. The supporters of Austria booed when South Africa was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 15 match minutes in a wonderful position. Thabile Shongwe didn't get a good kick on the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Meikel Zommer in the 16th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Themba Takane prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After a defensive mix-up in Austria's zone, Okoyomon Charles Pinazas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dennis Köllner came out of the goal and Okoyomon Charles Pinazas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 22 minutes into the match, Austria's goal looked a bit too open when Okoyomon Charles Pinazas came free, but Dennis Köllner reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Austria's Gordon Aigner in the 27th minute got a chance for a shot 27th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye South Africa's goalie prevented a goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gordon Aigner in the 28th minute of play forced South Africa's goalkeeper Themba Takane to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 28th minute, Gordon Aigner left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Austria fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-2. The Austria fans' excitement grew in the 30th match minute when Austria's Meikel Zommer looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-3 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Themba Takane took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gordon Aigner, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Meikel Zommer in the 38th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Themba Takane prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Themba Takane showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Meikel Zommer, who was totally free with the ball in the 39th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Meikel Zommer in the 40th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Themba Takane prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Ovidiu Adrian kicked well hit freekick during the 41st minute of the match. Austria's Meikel Zommer managed to work through South Africa's defense and was going for an easy goal, but he hit the shot with his toe and the ball flew outside the goal. Meikel Zommer dejectedly held out his arms as if to ask why the ball hadn't gone in. When Thabile Shongwe came up free with the goalie in the 46th minute, the South Africa fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Thabile Shongwe couldn't finish the play. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-3 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.
The wind increased when Okoyomon Charles Pinazas made the kick off in the second half. Dennis Köllner showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Okoyomon Charles Pinazas, who was totally free with the ball in the 55th minute. When the match clock showed 55 minutes, the score became 2-3 when Okoyomon Charles Pinazas sped through Austria's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Dennis Köllner. When Austria's Gordon Aigner in the 60th minute got a chance for a shot 60th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye South Africa's goalie prevented a goal. In the 62nd minute Johannes Bartlett shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dennis Köllner saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 66th minute Johannes Bartlett shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dennis Köllner saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Sam Mufumadi's late challenge caught a Austria's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Sam Mufumadi helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, South Africa's Sam Mufumadi got a free kick in the 68th minute. Dennis Köllner took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Okoyomon Charles Pinazas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 74th minute Gordon Aigner shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Themba Takane saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Themba Takane stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Gordon Aigner's shot from short distance in the 75th minute. After a rather tough play, South Africa's Simamane Mandla got a free kick in the 76th minute. Meikel Zommer's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 79thth minute, Themba Takane skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. The long shot by Uwe Strunck in the 80th minute really tested Themba Takane's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. 81 minutes into the match, Gordon Aigner had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Themba Takane. South Africa's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gordon Aigner was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-4. 85 minutes into the match, South Africa's goal looked a bit too open when Meikel Zommer came free, but Themba Takane reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Themba Takane stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Meikel Zommer's shot from short distance in the 85th minute. Austria were awarded a corner in the 87th minute after South Africa's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Meikel Zommer took the corner. Gordon Aigner made a great header on Austria's corner, it was just that South Africa's Themba Takane managed to reach the ball for a save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Meikel Zommer got free with Themba Takane in the 88th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The audience thought a goal was coming when Meikel Zommer got free with Themba Takane in the 89th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The corner led Austria's Uwe Strunck to fire away a dangerous shot which Themba Takane despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Themba Takane made a fantastic save in the 93rd minute, when Meikel Zommer sent off a good shot on target. With a little luck, South Africa's Themba Takane got control of the ball when Meikel Zommer tried to sneak it across the goal line. Austria's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.
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