Banyana Banyana kicked off their Cosafa Women’s Championship campaign on a high note with a 2-1 win over Madagascar in their opening fixture in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Wolfson Stadium in Kwazakhele on Wednesday afternoon.
Goals from Khanya Xesi and Nothando Vilakazi ensured the national women’s team got a full three points after having to play the last few minutes with a player short when Thato Letsoso was shown a second yellow card in the 80th minute.
Before the game, coach Desiree Ellis stressed the importance of winning their opening match, saying collecting the three points would ease the pressure on the players and create positive momentum in the team.
Banyana’s early arrival in the city last week seemed to have helped them as they did not struggle playing in the windy weather.
They were fired up from the word go and gave Madagascar little space to play.
Their first attempt on goal came less than a minute into the game, with Refiloe Jane’s header just missing the target.
A minute later, Vilakazi’s strike went over the crossbar.
Xesi put Banyana in the lead in the 18th minute.
The national side kept on knocking at the visitors’ goalposts in search of another goal.
After a failed attempt early in the first half, Vilakazi made sure her second strike found the back of the net to extend the Banyana scoreline to 2-0.
Madagascar were awarded a penalty after Irac Floriette was fouled inside the box.
Genevieve Razafindramidina converted from the spot, making it 2-1.
In the second half, Banyana continued with the attacking play and kept their dominance in the match.
However, their attempts at goals were fruitless.
Letsoso was sent straight to the change room after she was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle.
Banyana are the defending champions, and won the tournament in 2002, 2006 and 2008.
Pressure is on them to retain their title, especially because the event is taking place at home.
Banyana’s performance in Port Elizabeth over the next two weeks is of the utmost importance as they also have an eye on the African Women’s Championship to be contested in Ghana in November.
The continental championship is a qualifier event for the Fifa Women’s World Cup in France in 2019.
Thursday’s games are: 10am: (Group C) Zimbabwe v Namibia; 1pm: (Group B) Cameroon v Mozambique; 3.30pm: (Group B) Zambia v Lesotho.
All the matches will be played at the Wolfson Stadium.