South Africa’s Under 20 Soccer team aka Amajita began their FIFA U20 World Cup campaign with a 5-2 defeat to six-time champions Argentina at the Stadion Miejski on Saturday evening.
The result sees Argentina now topping Group F on goal difference with Portugal, who earlier beat South Korea 1-0.
The top two teams and four best third-placed finishers progress to the last-16.
Looking at the manner Amajita played in the first half against Argentina who are one of the hot favourites to win this year’s tournament, it is not all over for coach Thabo Senong’s charges.
Argentina settled the better of the two sides and were rewarded with an early goal in the fourth minute after Fausto Vera powered home a free header from a corner, 1-0.
Keenan Phillips classy header from Promise Mkhuma’s set-piece got Amajita back into the game.
After scoring the South Africans grew a few inches, often having Argentina stretched with skilfull buildups.
Argentina came out of the break notably stepping up the tempo.
On the hour a first VAR decision went against SA as centreback Givemore “Viera” Khupe was adjudged to have fouled Ferreira. Esequiel Barco slotted the 63rd-minute penalty.
A second VAR ruling was far less marginal after Phillips rashly hacked at Facundo Medina and was red-carded in the 66th.
The South Americans produced a sublime third, as Julian Alvarez chipped to Barco free on the left, who volleyed past Khubeka from an improbable angle in the 71st.
Substitute Adolf Gaich beat Khupe on the left and squared for Alvarez to easily sweep in a fourth in the 78th.
Medina muscled SA replacement Leo Thethani off the ball as the referee pointed to the spot. Lyle Foster buried to the right of Roffo to pull one back in the 85th.
Gaich swept in a fifth for Argentina from a corner in the 92nd.
South Africa are now bottom of their Group. They will play the Korea Republic on Tuesday evening (8:30) hoping to turn around the tables.
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