[ 2015-01-30 ]

Mandla Masango

Afcon Genius Moment: Masango volleys in but South Africa bow out
The Kaizer Chiefs midfielder scored one of the
goals of the group stage against Ghana but Avram
Grant’s side hit back with two late efforts to
progress to the second round

South Africa have endured a difficult Africa Cup
of Nations and exit the tournament at the group
stage but they did provide one final flourish in
their last match against Ghana.

In each of their three games, Ephraim Mashaba’s
team took the lead but they could never hold on
and collected just one point from a possible
nine.

They entered Tuesday’s match against the Black
Stars with a chance of qualifying for the second
round, however, and once again it seemed it might
be their day when Mandla Masango netted one of the
goals of the group stage - and the standout moment
of genius of the third round of matches - to put
them in front.

The diminutive 25-year-old watched a weak clearing
header drop in front of him, planted his left boot
and struck a sweet looping volley with his right
over the head of goalkeeper Brimah Razak from just
outside the box.

Mashaba had turned to Masango for inspiration
having only afforded him five minutes from the
bench in the first two matches. The Kaizer Chiefs
star delivered, but it was still not enough to
save South Africa from disappointment.

The sensational goal was Masango’s first in a
competitive international match but John Boye and
Andre Ayew struck late in the second half to break
Bafana Bafana hearts, and also send Senegal home.

Ghana will be joined by Algeria in the last eight,
with both sides winning two matches and losing one
to collect six points in what was labelled the
'group of death' before the tournament.

Source - Goal.com

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