Bafana Bafana were eliminated from the Cosafa Cup by Madagascar after suffering a 4-3 defeat in a penalty shoot-out at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
Bafana started the game with more of the possession and looked threatening in the opening stages of the match.
The hosts had a chance to break the deadlock from a free kick when Luther Singh played the ball across to Katlego Maboe to strike at goal, but his effort sailed wide of the target.
Singh had a golden opportunity to hand Bafana the lead after 20 minutes when he was played clean through on goal following some great interplay, but the forward fired his effort straight at Jean Randrianasolo, who made a good save.
Madagascar grew into the game after 30 minutes following their slow start, seeing more possession of the ball and looking the more threatening side as the match went on.
The visitors had their first shot at goal in the 33rd minute after Jaotombo Bourah unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the area, but Reyaad Pieterse did well to tip his effort over the target.
Against the run of play, Maboe latched on to a long ball before making his way through on goal, but the attacker failed to beat Randrianasolo in a one-on-one situation.
The game went into half-time with the scoreline locked at 0-0.
Madagascar had a great opportunity to take the lead early in the second half, but Albert Rafetraniaina blazed his free kick straight into a South African player before the ball was cleared away from danger.
Bafana nearly took the lead when Aubrey Modiba rattled the woodwork with his strike from the edge of the area before the rebound was put well wide of the goal.
South Africa grew in confidence as the game went on and came close to scoring, but Motjeka Madisha headed his effort wide of goal.
Stuart Baxter opted to make a double substitution by introducing Jamie Webber and Lyle Foster on to replace Maboe and Taariq Fielies respectively.
The home side pressed hard for the winner in the closing stages of the game and had to revert to long balls, but the visitors put their bodies on the line to keep South Africa at bay.
However, the game was concluded on penalties and after Webber and Singh missed their attempts, Madagascar secured a 4-3 win to book their place in the semi-final.
