South Africa (0) 3 (Masuku 47′ Motupa 52′ 54′)
Zambia (1) 2 (Luchanga 35′ Mutale 73′)
Orlando Pirates duo Gift Motupa and Menzi Masuku inspired South Africa to a 3-2 win over Zambia in the 2015 Under 23 Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar, Senegal.
The win puts the South African in a reasonable position to progress following a disappointing 3 – 1 defeat against the tournament hosts in the same stadium on Saturday.
Owen da Gama made six changes to the South African starting eleven, including Motupa and Masuku, who arrived from Tunisia late on Monday. The pair’s inclusion would prove decisive in the game’s outcome in a seven-minute post half-time blitz that turned the game on its head.
Zambia survived an early South African surge and after Benedict Chepeshi forced Jody February into a superb save, Chipolopolo grabbed the lead through Conlyde Luchanga on 35 minutes.
Criminal defending by South Africa left the Zambian striker unmarked inside the area and the Lusaka Dynamos forward pounced with a brilliant volley to give February no chance.
After the break, South Africa came out all guns blazing and drew level after only two minutes through Masuku, who slotted the ball past Toaster Nsabata following a scramble inside the penalty box.
Owen da Gama’s men grabbed the lead five minutes later through Motupa after Kwanda Mngonyama directed a Keagan Dolly corner-kick into the danger area for the Pirates man to nod in from close range.
A shell-shocked Zambia defence conceded a third goal in seven minutes when Motupa latched onto a pass from Masuku.
Chipolopolo, though, were not ready to throw in the towel and reduced the deficit in the 73rd minute – Billy Mutale firing home from a corner-kick to reinvigorate the Zambians, who suddenly threw everything forward in search of an equaliser but eventually came up short and will need a minor miracle to progress to the knockout stages.
South Africa next face Tunisia on Friday with a win against the North Africans likely to secure their place in the final four, while Zambia face the unappealing prospect of taking on the Senegalese on their home turf with no prospect of going any further in the competition after two defeats.
In the other Group A game, favourites Senegal beat Tunisia 2 – 0 with goals from Ibrahima Diedhiou and Mouhamadou Diallo.
TEAMS:
South Africa: February; Mobara (Macheke 62′), Mngonyama, Coetzee, Moerane, Motupa, Dolly, Masuku, Mekoa Mahlambi (Norodien 84′), Zuma (P.Ntshangase 46′)
Zambia: Nsabata; Chepeshi, Mkandawire, Kampamba (Samu 48′), Sautu (Chirwa 87′), Musonda, Sakala, Kayawe (Phiri 60′), Katema, Luchanga, Mutale
