Amajita on course to defend Cosafa title after nail-biting comeback
South Africa edged Madagascar 5-4 in the penalty shootout to reach the final of the Cosafa Under-20 Championship on Thursday afternoon.
Oswin Appolis of South Africa celebrates goal during the 2019 COSAFA U20 Semi Final match between South Africa and Madagascar at the Nkoloma Stadium. (Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix)
Oswin Appolis was the hero for Helman Mkhalele’s side as he scored a brace to make sure that the game went to penalties with Amajita having gone 2-0 down.
Appolis scored his first goal in the 66th minute to make it 2-1 and then equalised in stoppage time before Amajita went on to win 5-4 in the penalty shootout.
The 18-year-old was named Man-of-the-Match in the end for his brilliant performance for South Africa.
“Well it was a tough day at the office; the guys [Madagascar] scored two goals and my boys’ heads were down,” said Appolis after the match.
“I always I told the boys there were still 45 minutes to go and we need to go fight for the badge and they did it.
“I didn’t play the last game [4-0 win over Lesotho] but for the new game I was always trying to get in the game. We knew it was tough and my teammates were always telling me ‘you need to get in the game, we need you’.”
Amajita will now play the winner between hosts Zambia and Angola in the final on Saturday.
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