Banyana Banyana came from a goal down to defeat Malawi 2-1 in their second international friendly at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Vanessa Chikupira opened the scoring for the visitors early in the second half with Hilda Magaia leveling in the 75th minute and Amogelang Motau getting the winner from a beautiful set-piece in the 83rd minute. Coach Dr Desiree Ellis made seven changes to the side that won 3-0 in the first friendly in Soweto on Saturday. Notably Nompumelelo Nyandeni started as captain on her last appearance for Banyana, Kaylin Swart who reached a half century of caps in goals ahead of Andile Dlamini while striker Thembi Kgatlana started on the bench.
It was the visitors with a clear chance to score a few seconds after the first whistle through Chikupira who was denied by the cross-bar. South Africa gained possession combining well but wasted chances with Kgalebane Mohlakoana hitting the word work in the 32nd minute, another chance was missed by Tiisetso Makhubela 10 minutes later from a Gabriela Salgado cross and two minutes from the break by Adrielle Mibe whose short was saved.
Magaia came on for Mibe and Kgatlana for Mohlakoana as Banyana subs in the second half. It took five minutes into the stanza for the South African subs to turn on the heat forcing the opposition to concede set-pieces. One the highlights of the game came in the 55th minute when Nyandeni bowed out of the international stage as she made way for Nonhlanhla Mthandi. Three minutes to the hour mark Makhubela made a mistake releasing the ball to the Swart who was out of position. Chisomo Banda put on pressure but the ball deflected for a corner. Irene Khumalo delivered the ball into the box and Chikupira headed home to break the deadlock.
The hosts came close to answering that through Magaia three minutes later but her shot was an easy save. However the bread winner equalised in the 75th minute from a Salgado corner and Motau silenced the Scorchers with three minutes left on the clock.
