SA goalkeeper saves four penalties in shootout win-ZoomTech News

Captain Ronwen Williams saved 4 penalties to assist South Africa attain the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations following a 0-0 draw towards Cape Verde.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha made two distinctive saves in fast succession shortly after additional time started to disclaim Mihlali Mayambela and Teboho Mokoena.

South Africa will now have the prospect to avenge their defeat by Nigeria on their final look within the Afcon semi-finals, once they had been crushed 2-0 by the Tremendous Eagles in 2000.

Williams sends South Africa to semi-finals

A second which is able to maybe be remembered because the save of the match was as shut as both group got here in regular time throughout a contest largely characterised by poor ending.

Williams will undoubtedly be a contender for the Finest Goalkeeper award as soon as the match is over, and his fingertip save as he sprung into the air to maintain out Benchimol’s effort by the slightest of margins was a exceptional reflex cease.

There was even higher to return from the 32-year-old when he stopped Cape Verde’s first three penalties by diving to his proper and thwarted Andrade by leaping in the wrong way, having appeared to seek the advice of notes on a water bottle between every kick.

Cape Verde had extra of the possession in the course of the early phases earlier than South Africa midfielder Teboho Mokoena blasted an effort straight at Vozinha and Themba Zwane and Proof Makgopa each scuffed pictures broad from promising positions at reverse ends.

With Percy Tau higher positioned to shoot, an off-balance Khuliso Mudau wedged an early effort behind as a part of a slick South Africa transfer he was on the centre of.

Tau was then concerned in a flashpoint on the stroke of half-time when he appeared to push Kenny Rocha Santos to the ground, with Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala deciding to take no motion towards both participant.

The incident proved the ultimate act of a primary interval which was removed from a traditional, inflicting some locals within the stands at Yamoussoukro’s Charles Konan Banny Stadium to create their very own leisure by audibly celebrating Ivory Coast’s last-gasp win over Mali after additional time of Saturday’s earlier quarter-final.

Garry Rodrigues, who was Cape Verde’s hero with their late winner towards Ghana of their opening match of the finals, made his first begin on the match rather than former Manchester United attacker Bebe, whereas Rocha Santos changed Deroy Duarte in midfield for the Blue Sharks.

Joao Paulo Fernandes despatched Rodrigues clear contained in the penalty space with a perceptive low go from the flank, just for the winger to ship a shot straight into Williams’ arms.

Cape Verde had two high-quality probabilities in fast succession following the introduction of Bebe for Rodrigues late within the second half, Rocha Santos having a shot blocked after incisive work by the substitute and Jovane Cabral blazing a strike over.

With nerves fraying within the shootout, Mokoena scored for South Africa however Zakhele Lepasa despatched his effort excessive and Aubrey Modiba noticed his parried by Vozinha as Hugo Broos’ aspect triumphed 2-1.

Broos has efficiently trusted in unchanged beginning alternatives for every of his aspect’s previous 4 matches, and their job might be far trickier towards their subsequent opponents, who’re within the semi-finals for the thirteenth time in 15 Afcon appearances and on a run of 4 successive clear sheets.

South Africa have matched that defensive sequence, doing so for the primary time of their eleventh look on the finals.

And with Williams on this kind, it might take one thing particular for Victor Osimhen and his team-mates to discover a well past the 1996 champions, who will try and bridge a 24-place hole in Fifa’s rankings once they meet the three-time winners in Bouake on Wednesday (17:00 GMT).