National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10306 (Terracing: 7730, Seating: 2370, VIP seats: 206) Northern Ireland's Nicky Granville started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Phillip Sephiri fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 3rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Andrew Colt having to interfere. Andrew Colt made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Timothy Mangope in the 7th minute of play. In the 10th minute Phillip Sephiri shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Andrew Colt saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 11th minute, Jo Hampton left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Northern Ireland fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. Andrew Colt made a fantastic save in the 13th minute, when Lesego Nunes sent off a good shot on target. Harry Machete fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Andrew Colt having to interfere. The supporters of Northern Ireland booed when South Africa was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Akil Mahlangu didn't get a good kick on the ball. Harry Machete received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 25th minute. Andrew Colt tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Laurence Theobold received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Fuzile Mabele tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. John Thebe kicked well hit freekick during the 45th minute of the match. 46 minutes into the game, Nicky Granville cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Fuzile Mabele was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

South Africa's Jeff Maduna was substituted for Wycliffe Sibeko. The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Timothy Mangope stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a rather tough play, Northern Ireland's Jo Hampton got a free kick in the 55th minute. When Timothy Mangope came up free with the goalie in the 55th 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 Timothy Mangope couldn't finish the play. Andrew Colt showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Phillip Sephiri, who was totally free with the ball in the 58th minute. Andrew Colt made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Phillip Sephiri in the 59th minute of play. If Lesego Nunes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lesego Nunes's late challenge caught a Northern Ireland's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Lesego Nunes helped the player get up and apologised. Lesego Nunes kicked well hit freekick during the 66th minute of the match. With an all-out effort, Northern Ireland's Fuzile Mabele threw himself towards the right post 70 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Laurence Theobold , which otherwise would have been placed in the net. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lesego Nunes in the 71st minute of play forced Northern Ireland's goalkeeper Andrew Colt to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. South Africa's Noxolo Mufadi was substituted for Harry Machete. South Africa were awarded a corner in the 74th minute after Northern Ireland's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Akil Mahlangu took the corner. In the 75th minute, Noxolo Mufadi got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 80th match minute, South Africa was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Timothy Mangope to maneuver through the defense. Andrew Colt showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Phillip Sephiri in the 86th minute of the match. Andrew Colt came out of the goal in the 88th minute to try and stop a shot by South Africa's Timothy Mangope. But to his dismay, Timothy Mangope quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-2. Northern Ireland made a substitution. Bart Burton replaced Benjamin Salmon. Northern Ireland's Andrew Colt played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Noxolo Mufadi in the 94th minute of play. 96 minutes into the game, Noxolo Mufadi was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. South Africa's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Northern Ireland the free kick. Northern Ireland's John Botham was substituted for Gary Wedlock . After a rather tough play, Northern Ireland's Sammy Farrell got a free kick in the 98th minute. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Northern Ireland had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.