Confederations Cup - South Africa down poor Kiwis

Eurosport - Thu, 18 Jun 09:15:00 2009

Striker Bernard Parker made amends for the blunder which cost South Africa victory in the opening match of the Confederations Cup by scoring twice in a 2-0 win over New Zealand in Rustenburg.

FOOTBALL South Africa's Bernard Parker celebrates his goal against New
Zealand during their Confederations Cup match at the Royal
Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg - 0

Parker struck in the 21st and 52nd minutes, both after crosses from left back Tsepo Masilela, to leave the hosts with a sporting chance of reaching the semi-finals and condemning the visitors to elimination before their final game.

There can have been no more relieved man in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium than Parker when he scored South Africa's first goal of the tournament before nearly 37,000 raucous fans.

The striker had unwittingly prevented his team's victory in the opening match against Iraq on Sunday when a shot from his own team mate struck him in the back of the legs as it was about to cross the line for a goal.

Parker showed no sign that the mishap had rocked his confidence when he took Masilela's cross and swept it past New Zealand keeper Glen Moss with his left foot.

His second goal early in the second half owed a little to luck as another Masilela cross struck his left thigh, deflecting the ball just inside Moss's left-hand post.

Parker could have completed his hat-trick 10 minutes later with a clever glancing header but Moss saved well.

My team mates supported me after what happened on Sunday," Parker said.

"After the game they told me to put it behind me, that it was part of football.

"When the coach announced the starting line-up for the New Zealand game and I saw that he had put me in, I got my confidence back. I saw he had confidence in me and I was able to put it behind me."

South Africa dominated the game against a weak New Zealand side and squandered a host of chances to build on their lead.

"We could have had two or three more goals," said coach Joel Santana. "I was satisfied with the victory, the way we moved the ball around and the number of opportunities created."

They also fell far too readily into the away team's defensive trap, having a goal in each half disallowed for offside.

Those misses could prove costly to their chances of reaching the semi-final from Group A. With one match to go Spain have qualified on six points and the hosts lie second with four. Iraq have one and New Zealand none.

South Africa need to draw with Spain in Bloemfontein on Saturday to be sure of going through. But, if they lose, Iraq could beat them on goal difference with a victory over the Oceania champions.

They can take comfort from a much more convincing performance than they showed in the opening game and can also reflect that they have yet to concede a goal in the tournament and have rarely looked like doing so.

Reuters

Comment 8 - 27 of 27

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  1. Giovani thanks for recognizing the talent that we are!!­ Go Pienaaar, Modise and Parker. Spain here we come. Its­ time to revive the spirit of '96!! Col Maluleke

    From colmaluleke, on Fri 19 Jun 10:41AM
  2. Parker,our boy! ;-))) RED STAR BELGRADE!

    From milosh94, on Thu 18 Jun 6:28PM
  3. SA is a good team, at least the individual technical­ skills. I miss Benny McCarthy though. The left defender­ (I tyhink his mane is Masilela) impressed me a lot. But­ they lack some concreteness and team spirit, everyone­ was trying his own glory - with a decent success,­ because there is some talent there.

    From Giovanni T, on Thu 18 Jun 10:45AM
  4. Put it this way, NZ are there for winning in their­ qualifying zone. They might not be an overall brilliant­ team - which isn't rocket science guys - but they­ do have a few handy players out there plying their­ trade in world football.

    However if any team decided­ to pick up the ball and run with it, we'd kill each­ and every one of you and the score would be like a­ cricket score. :) Same with South Africa, who had a­ good game but will need to improve if they are to have­ a good WC tournament.

    From Heine, on Thu 18 Jun 9:53AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    SOUTH AFRICA ARE GOING TO BE A LAUGHING STOCK AT WORLD­ CUP

    CANT WAIT !!!!!

    HAR AH HA HAR

    From JEEMS, on Thu 18 Jun 9:35AM
  6. I think South Africa were becoming a bit too big headed­ by the way they juggled the ball at the close of the­ game as well as losing the ball unnecessarily. They­ played well on the night and could have won by atleast­ 4 goals (which they might need after IRAQ vs NZ). I­ think they needed a bit of discipline to hold on to­ possession, compose themselves in front of goal, have­ direction in terms of who to pass the final ball to.­ Mashego was a useless sub in all aspects: a striker who­ cant beat the offside trap aginst such weak opponents­ doesnt deserve the call-up!!

    From muzilaem, on Thu 18 Jun 9:21AM
  7. south Africa impressed me very much,keep it up boys we­ really pray for you.
    manyi boy from Tanzania.

    From John, on Thu 18 Jun 9:15AM
  8. what a gr8 performance by our boys!!!!! yep I believe­ we should have scored more goals but hey we won and who­ said we cant get a point against Spain, Im aware of­ their long unbeaten run but anything is possible.

    Go­ bafana and Prove them haters wrong, nobody expects you­ to cause an upset against the glorified Euro Champs but­ anything is possible, siyabangena!!!!

    From kgatontlebotho, on Thu 18 Jun 8:39AM
  9. I am A Zambian and residing in Zambia .I watched the­ game Yesterday and technically South africa where­ excellent against a hapless New Zealand .I think SA­ chance of qualifying to next round are 50-50 They shud­ make sure that they are not Ambushed by the Spanish­ Armada who I do believe have the most balnced team at­ the moment .Pienaar was excellent so was Parker and­ BOOOOO(Booth).Cant wait for the SA Vs SPAIN game .Viva­ FIFA !!!!

    From naz1child, on Thu 18 Jun 8:25AM
  10. IF Iraq beat New Zealand by 3 goals we are out of the­ competition... also to Janice M , New Zealanders­ dont play aussie rules ,,, aussies do.. ha ha :)

    We­ are playing good football , just need the strikers to­ pick up some form and we are in with a shout. Pienaar­ was awsome , shabiya was awsome .... COME ON !!!!

    From richardjonker2003, on Thu 18 Jun 8:19AM
  11. credits to IRAQ

    From kiko, on Thu 18 Jun 8:11AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Its a waste of time. Its pointless. Its a meaningless­ competition. Thats how teams like New Zealand are in­ it. If nations took it seriously, there wouldnt be such­ bad teams

    From Dean O, on Thu 18 Jun 1:54AM
  13. Bafana are technically a very good side, they should­ teach ENGLAND how to keep the ball and how to pass it­ as well, i still think they need BENNI MCHARTY to add­ some bit of firepower, well done 4now!!!

    From Derik, on Thu 18 Jun 1:40AM
  14. South African team need more coordination than­ individual skills to compete for 2010.

    From santos, on Thu 18 Jun 1:20AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Recently, I discovered a hot place -- W ealthyFinder­ Co­ m- -- where many sexy singles who like sports and­­ chatting- there. I'm an open minded girl from UK,­ I­ also like- discuss sports and love with handsome­ guys­ on it.

    From summer0073635, on Thu 18 Jun 1:03AM
  16. why is the confed cup a waste of time?
    if you love­ football you should savour every opportunity to watch­ teams play even if they're not the best...
    new­ zealand not a good side!? well that's a startling­ revelation... but at least they took part... give them­ some credit!

    From Fahad, on Thu 18 Jun 12:53AM
  17. New Zealand are C R A P i don't even know why they­ bothered, even though they are the tallest men on the­ field they have not made it count nothing. New Zealand­ were just poor, i don't know how they made it to­ the confederation cup i really don't. Maybe they­ should just stick to Aussie Rules or Cricket

    From janice m, on Thu 18 Jun 12:12AM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    What a complete waste of time this stupid tournament is

    From Dean O, on Wed 17 Jun 10:54PM
  19. Pienaar is the boy!

    From ALAN G, on Wed 17 Jun 10:45PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    THAR AS SAM NEW SAXAY TANNAS PLAYAR THAR TACKUN ABOOT­ AN THA TANNAS BLAGS. LEEK I WAS SAYAN JAST A MANUT AGO,­ ER BECKHOND AS GUD ER FORE HONED AS EXCELLONT BAT ER­ WENK HOND AS FECKUN MERVALASS.

    From Donney, on Wed 17 Jun 10:01PM
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