Goal-shy 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa flopped again on Tuesday when held 0-0 by Jamaica in a lackluster friendly.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana have not scored for 385 minutes and the first African nation chosen to stage the international soccer showpiece ended a 17-match schedule this year with just nine goals and four victories.
The closest a match watched by South African President Jacob Zuma came to producing a goal was midway through the first half when New York-based Jamaican midfielder Dane Richards had a shot cleared off the line. Richards burst through the middle, evading three tackles, and slipped the ball past goalkeeper Rowan Fernandez only for captain Aaron Mokoena to rescue his team.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Jamaican goalkeeper Dwayne Miller foiled the best South African chance on 10 minutes, using his right foot to block a close-range shot from Katlego Mphela after Benni McCarthy created a rare opening.
Recalled for the goalless draw with Japan in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, Blackburn striker McCarthy had another frustrating outing as he sought to add to a record 31 goals for the national team.
Carlos Alberto Parreira, the 1994 Brazil World Cup-winning coach who began a second spell in charge of South Africa at the weekend, criticized Jamaica for “killing” the second half at a half-full Free State Stadium.
“It was a real game only in the first half. The Jamaicans kept falling down after half-time and there were so many stoppages the rhythm of the match was destroyed,” he said.
“We should have beaten Japan and Jamaica so there is a lot of hard work ahead and I am not helped by the fact that Bafana do not play again this year,” Parreira said .
Jamaica coach Theodore Whitmore countered: “Congratulations to South Africa on a good performance. We allowed them too much space in the first half but were well organized after half-time.”
■OMAN 0, BRAZIL 2
AP, MUSCAT
An opportunistic strike from Villareal hitman Nilmar and a Hassan Mudhaffar own goal earned Brazil a 2-0 victory over Oman at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Tuesday.
Nilmar’s poaching instincts gave Brazil the lead in the fourth minute as he poked the ball home from close range after Blackburn Rovers keeper Ali al-Habsi had made a spectacular save to deny Luis Fabiano.
Brazil coach Dunga praised Oman’s performance.
“It was a good match. Oman plays tactically good football and they were on top of their game. After playing England we were tired and that’s why we didn’t play to our usual standards,” Dunga said.
Brazil beat England 1-0 in Doha on Saturday.
“Oman is improving and if they go the same way they will definitely qualify for the next World Cup,” added Dunga, who led Brazil to World Cup glory in the US in 1994.
Brazil dominated proceedings in the first half, and then made a flurry of substitutions at half-time as Dunga sought to rest his top players, with Kaka, Fabiano and Felipe Melo all substituted.
Brazil doubled their advantage in the 61st minute courtesy of an own goal from defender Mudhaffar.
■SLOVAKIA 1, CHILE 2
REUTERS, ZILINA, SLOVAKIA
Esteban Paredes scored early in the second half to give Chile a 2-1 friendly win over fellow World Cup qualifiers Slovakia on Tuesday which earned lavish praise from the opposing coach.
“At times it seemed like we were playing Barcelona,” Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss told reporters. “They don’t let you get near the ball.”
“They are excellent tactically. They are a magnificent team with a magnificent coach [Marcelo Bielsa],” he said.
Gonzalo Jara thumped the visitors ahead from close range after nine minutes before Slovakia equalized against the run of play with a header by Stanislav Sestak eight minutes later.
Chile should have gone back in front before half-time and had to wait until the 56th minute before Fabian Orellana’s cross found Arturo Vidal at the far post and he headed the ball to Paredes who scored from close range.
■BELGIUM 2, QATAR 0
AP, SEDAN, FRANCE
Belgium beat Qatar 2-0 in a friendly on Tuesday for coach Dick Advocaat’s third win in four matches since taking over the Red Devils.
Advocaat dropped Manchester City midfielder Vincent Kompany from the lineup for turning up late twice for appointments during the preparations.
Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel headed in the opener in the 20th minute, and Club Brugge striker Wesley Sonck added a second in the 54th.
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