2018 World Cup Qualifier: South Africa 0-2 Senegal - AS IT HAPPENED

by Bertin Basson

Friday Nov 10, 2017. 21:04

Good evening and welcome to our Live Coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier between South Africa and Senegal from the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, on Friday 11 November 2017.

South Africa: Khune; Hlanti, Daniels, Gould, Mkhize - Furman, Mokotjo, Zwane (Tshabalala 69') - Vilakazi (Grobler 83') - Manyama (Jali 63'), Tau

Senegal: K.Ndiaye, Gassama, Kouyate (A. Ndiaye 86'), Koulibaly, Sabaly - Sanè, Gueye , Ndoye - Manè, Niang (Ciss 90+3'), Sakho (Konatè 78')

AS IT HAPPENED UPDATES:

- Senegal book their place at next year's World Cup in Russia! The Lions of Teranga will be back on the world stage for the first time since 2002!

90+4' Full-Time: South Africa 0-2 Senegal (Sakho 12' Mkhize OG 39') 

83' Final change for the hosts as Sibusiso Vilakazi makes way for Bradley Grobler.

75' Into the final exchanges we go and things are not looking good for South Africa. The hosts also seem to have lost all hope as Konatè makes his way onto the pitch.

73' Morgan Gould goes into the referee's book.

69' Shabba makes his return to the international stage - replacing Themba Zwane. Can the Kaizer Chiefs stalwart make the difference?

63' Andile Jali - who many thought was suspended - comes on for Lebogang Manyama in the first change.

61' Sifiso Hlanti goes into the referee's book.

57' CHANCE! Good build-up by the hosts,  but Sibusiso Vilakazi's resulting shot is straight at Khadim Ndiaye who makes an easy save.

55' Senegal happy to sit back and absorb pressure in the opening stages of the half. As it stands they will book their ticket to Russia today.

46' The second half is underway.

45+1' Half-Time: South Africa 0-2 Senegal (Sakho 12' Mkhize OG 39') 

45' SAVE! Great stop by Khadim Ndiaye to deny Lebogang Manyama's curling effort from hitting the back of the net. Bafana Bafana ending the half on a high.

39' SUCKER PUNCH! Unbelievable unlucky for South Africa. Great save by Itumeleng Khune to deny Sadio Mane from close range, but in the most bizarre fashion Thamsanqa Mkhize guides the ball into the back of his own net from the rebound - ball hits his back before nestling in the net. So unlucky.

37' Salif Sane's shot from a free-kick takes a deflection and they have a corner-kick. The resulting corner-kick comes to nothing. Senegal have recovered well and slowed the game down following a relentless spell by the hosts.

35' Yellow Card - Sadio Mane goes into the referee's book.

29' WOODWORK! Lebogang Manyama very unlucky to see his shot canon off the crossbar. So close!

25' Bafana Bafana burst forward with Themba Zwane seeing his rocket of a shot well saved by the Senegalese goalkeeper - the rebound falls to Percy Tau, but the ball hits him more than anything and the visitors escape. First chance of the match for Bafana Bafana.

20' South Africa with all the possession since the goal, but  the Teranga Lions are standing firm for the time being. The hosts test the Senegalese from a few set-pieces, but goalkeeper Khadim Ndiaye is yet to touch the ball...

12' GOAL! Diafra Sakho silences the home crowd. The West Ham United man finishes with aplomb following a pin-point through ball from Sadio Mane who split the Bafana Bafana defence. Great goal!

10' Important early touch for Itumeleng Khune who shows great confidence to punch clear from what looked a dangerous situation for the visitors.

6' Lively start here by the hosts with Percy Tau and Themba Zwane causing the Teranga Lions problems. One feels that an early goal for South Africa would really set the pace.

1' Kick-off in Polokwane!

- Senegal pose a significant threat especially in attack with Liverpool ace Sadio Mane having returned to full fitness.

- Itumeleng Khune starts tonight's match despite suffering a facial injury last weekend. As a result, he dons a white mask this evening.

- The two teams lock horns exactly 12 months after Bafana Bafana's 2-1 win over the Teranga Lions. A match which would later be scrapped following damning match manipulation evidence against Joseph Lamptey with tonight's fixture the replay.