FIFAWWC: Kgatlana's goal not enough as South Africa's Banyana Banyana drop points again

South Africa vs Argentina

FIFAWWC: Kgatlana's goal not enough as South Africa's Banyana Banyana drop points again

Izuchukwu Akawor 11:16 - 28.07.2023

South Africa's Banyana Banyana came close to their first win at the FIFAWWC but let it slip away against a spirited Argentina.

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana are facing possible elimination from the FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFAWWC, after another disappointing outing.

Thembi Kgatlana put in a brilliant performance but it was not enough as South Africa let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Argentina on Friday morning.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ug/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Kgatlana was involved in both goals but an incredible fightback from the South Americans saw both sides share the spoils in Group G.

Strong Start for South Africa

After facing defeats to Italy and Sweden in their opening games respectively, South Africa and Argentina went into the match at the Barr Stadium looking to kick start their campaign.

South Africa
South Africa were in dreamland after taking a two-goal lead.

However, it was the Banyana Banyana who started on a positive note when Linda Motlhalo fired them ahead at the half-hour mark after a check by the VAR.

It was a goal that arrived against the run of play as the South Americans dominated the game.

Motlhalo
Linda Motlhalo opened the scoring in the game vs Argentina.

But South Africa defended well and limited them to take the narrow leading into the break.

Kgatlana doubles the lead

Having picked up the assist for the opener in the first half, the inspirational Kgatlana was on hand to double South Africa’s lead in the 66th minute.

Kgatlana
Thembi Kgatlana scored one and assisted the other goal for South Africa.

It was a special goal that saw the rainbow nation look destined to give Africa a second win in the FIFAWWC after Nigeria’s Super Falcons shocked co-hosts Australia.

Argentina fights back

Two goals behind and looking down and out, Argentina kept pushing and continued to dominate on the ball.

Sophia Braun
Sophia Braun started the comeback for Argentina.

Their resilience finally paid off eight minutes after they conceded the second goal.

Sophia Braun started to fightback when she pulled one goal back in the 74th minute.

Romina Nunez
Romina Nunez celebrates her decisive equaliser.

Five minutes later, Romina Nunez made it 2-2 with a heartbreaking equaliser for the Argentines.

What the result means

Both sides still have work to do heading into the final game of the group stages. South Africa and Argentina shared the spoils to register their first point at the FIFAWWC.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ug/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

The Banyana Banyana will be the most disappointed of the duo after letting a comfortable two-goal cushion slip away in the space of five second half minutes.

Related content