Bax: Guatemala match crucial
2005-07-11 19:34
Johannesburg - Already assured of a place in the Gold Cup quarter-finals against all expectations, Bafana Bafana's final first round Group C qualifying game against struggling Guatemala in steamy Houston on Wednesday night remains as crucial as anything the Cinderella-like, rags-to-riches success story has provided.
This was the view expressed by Bafana coach Stuart Baxter in a telephone interview from Los Angeles on Monday as the South African squad set off for Texas after the topsy-turvy 3-3 draw with Jamaica in Los Angeles on Sunday.
"Victory over Guatemala could mean finishing at the top of our group and a reasonably straight-forward quarter-final against comparatively modest opposition," said the Bafana coach, "while a defeat might result in a daunting match-up against hosts United States, one of the Gold Cup favourites.
"It's an excruciating conundrum trying to work out who we will play in the quarter-finals," added Baxter, "but the one rule that is clearly best to follow is that the higher our final position in Group C, the less formidable the opposition is likely to be."
And while the Bafana coach said he was "more than satisfied" with the drawn goal-fest against Jamaica in view of South Africa playing the major portion of the second half without red-carded SuperSport United defender Pa Gaxa, he detected a lessening in the players' momentum and intensity compared to that in the historic victory over fancied Mexico in the opening fixture.
Pace and urgency must be restored
."If the trend continues against Guatemala the consequences could be far-reaching," added Baxter. "The pace and urgency of the Mexico game needs to be restored if we are to avoid a nasty backlash against Guatemala.
Three times in the lead against "The Reggae Boys" via scintillating goals from Abram Raselemane (34th min), Lungisane Ndlela (40th min) and Siyabonga Nomvete (56th min), Bafana stuttered and eventually succumbed to what must be admitted were worthy equalising goals from Jermaine Hue (35th min), Damion Stewart (42nd min) and finally substitute Teafore Stewart (80th min).
Baxter believes Jamaica's physical power and pace up front unnerved the Bafana defence, particularly from set pieces and high balls, with Bafana generally lacking the aggression that contained Mexico.
But the Bafana coach praised the performance of reserve goalkeeper Thabang Radebe, who only received a call-up minutes before the kick-off, after first-choice Calvin Marlin suffered a migraine attack while warming up for the game.
"It was an unenviable and unexpected introduction into the fray for Thabang," said Baxter, "and while he might have erred with one or two crosses, his bravery in saving on three occasions from point-blank range prevented what looked like certain goals - and he produced a commendable performance overall."
Baxter said Bafana would appeal against Gaxa's red-carding and consequent one-game suspension "because the first yellow card he received was of a frivolous nature after he celebrated the scoring of one of Bafana's goal."
- SAPA