By Samindra Kunti in Dunedin
July 28 – Argentina rallied late to rescue a 2-2 draw against South Africa in an enthralling Group G match with both the South Americans and Banyana Banyana retaining a chance of progressing from the group.
The South Africans were long on the cusp of winning their first-ever match at a Women’s World Cup after Linda Motlhalo and Thembi Kgatlana had given the team a tow-goal lead, but Argentina staged a great comeback with two late goals from Sophia Braun and Romina Núñez in the space of four minutes.
It was one of those rare matches in which both sides bottled it: Argentina with their lethargic defending and South Africa letting slip a two-goal advantage.
Neither side had won a World Cup match going into their second Group G encounter and sought to bounce back from one-goal defeats in their openers. In the 24th minute, the South Africans lost their captain Jane Refiloe to injury but six minutes later they responded with the opening goal from Motlhalo, who plies her trade at Glasgow City.
The South Americans had only themselves to blame after their defenders all put their hands up for offside and stopped.
When Mothalo tapped the ball into the net from a Kgatlana assist, no one celebrated, but the replay showed that Kgatlana was a full yard away from being in an offside position. It was a major lapse by the Argentinean defense and the team struggled to regroup even if South African keeper Kaylin Swart hardly looked the part.
Banyana Banyana were sharper in the final third and Kgatlana got a second after Jermaine Seoposenwe robbed Aldana Cometti off the ball in the 66th minute. Again, Argentina’s defense was naive.
The South Americans seemed dead and buried, but their opponents had a meltdown of their own in the final 20 minutes. Braun’s strike – a volley from outside the box and arguably the goal of the tournament – reignited the match in the 74th minute and, four minutes later, Argentina were level through a header from Nunez. The momentum had shifted, but ultimately the Argentinians could not find a winner.
Both sides have a point from two matches going into their final group game. Argentina will meet Sweden in Hamilton while South Africa face Italy in Wellington. On Saturday, Sweden and Italy play for top spot in the other Group G match in New Zealand’s capital.
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