Brave Bafana Lose 2-0 To Chile

Chile scored their 2-0 win through goals from Jorge Valdivia Toro in the 45th minute and through man-of-the-match Alexis Sanchez in the 66th minute.

Bafana Bafana Coach, Joel Natalino Santana, says this was a good game that gave our side the type of opposition needed. “Looking at where we are going, I think we did well. Chile is a very good Team. They closed us very quickly and never allowed us to play our game.

“However, we had the same number of chances, but we made mistakes that cost us the match. Actually, the first goal was scored from a ball that was not supposed to be dangerous and we got punished for carelessness. I think the final score was not the true reflection and should have netted at least one goal.

“We had a chance to force at least a draw, but we somehow failed to convert the good chances we had. We must concede that we did not play very well in the midfield, because our ball distribution to Teko Modise was bad and also played high balls to Bennie McCarthy which does not suit his style. We should not take anything away from Chile, whom I think were the better Team of the day,” says Santana.

Chile Coach, Marcelo Biesla, expressed his joy over the final outcome of the game, saying Bafana Bafana provided them with the type of good opposition they needed ahead of their next 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Peru next month.

“The first 30 minutes was good for Chile,” says Bielsa. “Though we played ok in that period, South Africa still managed to find gaps. It was a good game for both sides, but we were the ones who had better luck and scored. Bafana could have easily scored once or twice before we scored, but it was just about a matter of luck being on our side.”