SA u/23 keep Rio dream alive
Amaglug glug on track to Rio following a 3-2 win over Zambia.
Eliot Mahlase
The South African u/23 side kept their dreams of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics alive by defeating Zambia 3-2 in Senegal on Tuesday.
The teams came into the match needing to win after losing their opening games.
The tournament, in Dakar, Senegal, features eight nations with the top three getting a place in the Rio Olympics.
The match started at a fast pace with both teams going at each other. ‘Amaglug glug’ nearly took the lead when Phakamani Mahlambi was sent through but a clever cover from a Zambian defender saw the ball cleared for a corner.
Despite being on the back foot for most of the first-half, Zambia drew first blood when Conlyde Luchanga lashed a volley in the 34th minute.
The first-half ended 1-0 in favour of the Zambians.
The second half began with Amaglug glug doing most of the attacking and just a minute into the second-half, Orlando Pirates star Menzi Masuku pounced on a loose ball and beat the keeper to make it 1-1 after a poor clearance from the Zambian defence.
Owen da Gama’s men were hungry for more goals and five minutes later, they found a second through another Pirates player Gift Motupa, after heading in from a corner.
Amaglug glug kept pushing for more goals and a minute after taking the lead, Motupa finished neatly after a flowing move for his second goal.
Zambians pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute but South Africa held firm to claim all three points.
SA play Tunisia in their final group game, and a win or a draw will see them safely into the semi-finals of the U/23 Championships.
Two wins in their next two games will guarantee Owen da Gama’s men a place in Rio next year.
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