Mali win penalty shoot-out against South Africa to reach semi-finals
Posted On Sunday, 3rd February 2013
Tokelo Rantie of South Africa reacts after he scored during football match between South Africa and Mali
Soumaila Diakite was the hero for Mali after saving two penalties in their 3-1 penalty shoot-out win over hosts South Africa to help his side progress to the African Cup of Nations semi-final.
Tokelo Rantie had given South Africa the lead on 31 minutes at the Moses Mabhida Stadium before Seydou Keita equalised 12 minutes into the second period.
Neither side could create any more meaningful opportunities in the 90 minutes and following a dull 30 minutes of extra time, the game went to spot kicks.
Mali converted all their penalties, while Diakite saved from Dean Furman and May Mahlangu before Lehlohonolo Majoro shot woefully wide as Gordon Igesund’s side crashed out.
“This win signifies a great deal,” said Keita afterwards
“You see the Mali flag, which is not only flying in the north and the south of Mali, but also outside Mali.
“Only football can manage this. Mali has her head held high today and we are proud to be Malian. The whole of Mali must be proud, like us.”
It was Mali who had the first shot of the game, but from 25 yards out Keita could not find the target.
South Africa came back and after 12 minutes Adama Coulibaly had to block Bernard Parker’s goalbound effort, with the resulting cross headed wide by Mahlangu.
Eight minutes later and Diakite was forced into his first save of the match, parrying Tokelo Rantie’s effort to safety.
However, he could not keep out Rantie just after the half-hour mark as he converted Thuso Phala’s cross from six yards.
Mali had a decent chance to level immediately, but from the edge of the area Modibo Maiga’s weak effort was easily gathered by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.
On the stroke of half-time they had an excellent chance to level, but Keita’s corner was headed wide by Molla Wague from just six yards out.
They did however get their leveller 12 minutes after the restart and it came from talisman Keita, who headed Mahamadou Samassa’s cross home from close range.
Full of confidence, Mali looked for a second and just after the hour mark almost took the lead with Khune again coming to the hosts’ rescue, pushing Samassa’s effort round the post.
It was as close as either side got in the second period, forcing the game into extra-time.
Neither side showed any attacking intent and seemed happy enough for the game to go to penalties.
Siphiwe Tshabalala converted South Africa’s first spot-kick, but after Cheick Diabate scored for Mali it started to fall apart for the hosts.
Furman and then Mahlangu’s weak efforts were saved and after Adama Tamboura and Mahamane Traore had scored for Mali it was left to Majoro to keep his side in the competition.
Sadly for South Africa his effort flew way wide of the post and Mali went through.
“The South Africans posed a lot of problems in the first half and we had to change the tactics in the second half to get back into the match,” said Patrice Carteron, the Mali coach.
“They pressed us with a lot of diversity. But we knew we had to be patient and we had time to fight back.”
Igesund was close to tears during the post-match media conference.
“My boys lost with dignity, pride and passion,” he said.
“There is only so much any coach can ask from his team and my boys gave everything they had. It is very difficult to accept defeat when you play so well.”
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Bye bye SA. You opened your mouths so widely before the match.
Win or loose,its fine.caf shits are now happy that western africa is the only region in the finals.caf is so corrupt and only favours western shits.but keep in mind that southern africa region is the richest in africa.you may hate us but you cant match with us.go zambia,SA,ANGOLA,DRC,ZIMBABWE,MALAWI, LESOTHO,MOZAMBIQUE.We will create our own tournament so that we are divided because thats what your issa hayatou wants after all.and we are chasing all westerners from our regions.corrupt dirty minded chaps
Foolish jeff. You think we are not following issues. You supported Ethiopia when they played against your friends Zambia and when Zambia was booted out, u celebrated and boasted u were the only southern Africa country remaining. Now u are condemning CAF. Nonsense! Viva BS, Mali, Togo, I coast, B.faso.
@jeff u are a very stupid if southern africans r rich develop ur football talents dnt build stadiums wen u cant play.only west aficans make name in world cup is caf influencin sat too? Dnt b stupid…football is from west africa u can kill urself.wen zambia were given that nonsense penalty against nigeria did u complain..wen we talk about soccer dnt mention lesotho,mozambique,malawi etc.west africans shit on u..8 quarter finalist n 1 from da south.
@jeff.Southern shit should be serious with their education. The illiteracy rate over there is very very high therefore u can never be a leader in CAF, AU etc.
No wonder all these leaders are from the western region.We will always remain the leaders and always rule the southern shit. I wonder the day Zambian could become UN secretry general. Jeff you a fool.
You’re talking about education and yet you’re just exposing your ignorance. Do you know the foremost scholar in the world on the science of crashworthiness? He helps companies to design planes and motor vehicles that are safe for travel and will provide maximum protection to passengers in case of a crash. He is called professor Clive Chirwa and he’s zambian. He’s a consultant for NASA and Boening. Google his name you idiot.
I hope u ve heard of professor allotey frm ghana. we do nt wish 2 trade insults wid u bcos we re classy. unlike u guys who kissed the ass of the white man 4 so long, i respect west africa bcos we re a true representative of the black skin. we put our destiny in our own hands n manage our situatn n nt wait 4 e white man 2 tel us wat 2 do in our own country. west africans express ourselves in our peace, wars, football, boxin, n our managerial skills arnd the globe. we carry mother africa 4 beta n 4 worse. wen we speak, the world listens. the only countries i respect outside west africa re ethiopia, kenya, zimbabwe n egypt.
All this explain why Africa is so behind.People bragging about some individual successes in their country or regions,when you should be talking about your collective achievement as a race,country or region.Funny ya’ll bragging about being the most educated people yet your all coming from some of the most under developed in the world.You might be having the education but lacking intelligence.Football is for entertainment nothing more nothing less and it proves nothing.