SA MAINTAIN WINNING TRAIL
Two penalties handed South Africa a 2-1 win over Colombia in Johannesburg on Thursday as the World Cup hosts overcame a strong and robust opponent.
Kenya referee Samwel Kipngetich also awarded the South American visitors a spot kick in a rare game of three penalties. The win extends to 10 the number of unbeaten games for South Africa since Carlos Alberto Parreira returned as coach.
A sell out crowd of some 70,000 at Soccer City provided a foretaste of the atmosphere to come at the opening game of the World Cup on June 11.
Teko Modise had the good fortune of taking his 18th minute penalty twice after the initial effort was saved but the linesman adjudged Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina had moved off his line before the kick was taken.
Three minutes later the visitors were awarded their own penalty after a clumsy challenge by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune. It was duly converted by Giovanni Moreno.
South Africa were back in the lead in the 58th minute when Mario Yepes was adjudged to have tripped Siphiwe Tshabalala, although it seemed a harsh decision. Katlego Mphela scored from the spot.
Defender Tsepo Masilela made a telling tackle to deny Colombia an equaliser soon after while in the later stages substitute goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs had to make several saves to keep the South Africans ahead.
The World Cup hosts next play Guatemala in Polokwane on Monday. It is their penultimate warm-up before the start of the World Cup.
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