Banyana-Banyana finished 2024 with a 3-2 defeat to Jamaica in the sides’ second international friendly in Montego Bay on Tuesday morning.
Banyana drew blood first through Linda Motlhalo in the 19th minute while Jamaica scored three in the second half through Vyan Sampson, Drew Spence and Kayla Mckenna. Coach Dr Desiree Ellis made four changes to the starting line-up that lost 3-0 in the first friendly last weekend. Kaylin Swart started ahead of Andile Dlamini, Nomvula Kgoale came for Kholosa Biyana, Gugu Dhlamini started ahead of Nicole Michael and Shakira O’Malley replaced Amogelang Motau in the starting 11.
It was the hosts who made intentions to score first through captain Khadija Shaw in the fifth minute but she missed the target. Three minutes from that it was Spence from range however her effort went wide. South Africa had a good team build up that resulted in Motlhalo breaking the dead lock in the 19th minute to give the African champions a lead the break.
The second half saw Jamaica double their efforts to get the equaliser and were successful in the 58th minute when Vyan Sampson capitalised on poor goalkeeping. It took five minutes for the reggae girls to take a lead after captain Shaw set-up Spence who scored with a header. Jamaica kept pushing for another goal and were almost rewarded in the 66th minute but Swart made a super save. 10 minutes later Kayla Mckenna scored Jamaica’s third goal from a poor defense by Banyana. The visitors however scored their second goal late in the game through substitute Motau.
Banyana are winless since June 4 2024 when the beat Senegal in a friendly. The friendlies this year are part of preparations for the 2025 WAFCON in Morocco. They have conceded 13 goals in three matches while scoring three in that period.
