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.
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.
Comment 8 - 27 of 27
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
Parker,our boy! ;-))) RED STAR BELGRADE!
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.
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.
SOUTH AFRICA ARE GOING TO BE A LAUGHING STOCK AT WORLD CUP
CANT WAIT !!!!!
HAR AH HA HAR
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!!
south Africa impressed me very much,keep it up boys we really pray for you.
manyi boy from Tanzania.
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!!!!
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 !!!!
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 !!!!
credits to IRAQ
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
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!!!
South African team need more coordination than individual skills to compete for 2010.
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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!
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
What a complete waste of time this stupid tournament is
Pienaar is the boy!
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.
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