Bafana draws against Ethiopia

Bafana Bafana salvaged a 1-1 draw with Ethiopia after a second-half strike from Katlego Mphela in their 2014 World Cup qualifier at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on Sunday.
Bafana Bafana almost had a perfect start when Siyabonga Nomvethe was played through but his shot bounced just wide of the post.
Despite the early chance, the hosts were looking both nervous and rushed in the final third as they struggled to break through the determined Ethiopian defence.
The visitors, on the other hand, were happy to soak up the pressure and when they received the ball they put together some snappy passes and looked dangerous on the counter.
Steven Pienaar floated in a superb free-kick in the 11th minute which Bongani Khumalo came storming in for but the goalkeeper pushed it over with his fingertips.
Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was then tested with a fairly simple shot on one such break early on when Saladin Said got some space in the area but scuffed his shot.
Khune almost made a comical error in the 19th minute when his clearance smashed into the striker but the ball bounced wide of the goal.
Ethiopia would then snatch the lead when Siphiwe Tshabalala played a horrible pass to Tsepo Masilela in the 28th minute and Said nipped in before thundering a shot in off the underside of the crossbar.
Bafana then suffered another blow when Masilela had to come off after just half an hour of play and was replaced by Punch Masenamela.
Katlego Mphela tested the goalkeeper with a powerful long-range free-kick which the stopper spilled but he dived onto the rebound to prevent the on-rushing South Africans from poking home as the visitors remained in the lead.
Bafana continued to struggle in the final few minutes and another effort from the lively Said flashed just wide of the target with Khune scrambling.
It was more of the same after the break with Bafana struggling to break through and Ethiopia goalkeeper took a boot to the face in the 51st minute after a desperate slide from Nomvethe.
Mphela would then nod wide in the 55th minute Killer forced a brilliant save from the goalkeeper when he glanced on a sublime cross from Pienaar in the 63rd minute.
Masenamela was lively in the second period and constantly found space down the left but Ethiopia had packed the area with players and Bafana continued to struggle.
The hosts would finally restore their hope with just over 10 minutes to go when Mphela muscled his way past his defender and curled a shot into the far corner.
Pienaar should have put the hosts ahead moments later when he was found inside the area with loads of space but he side-footed the chance wide.
Bafana had a late free-kick which came to nothing in the five minutes of stoppage time and Ethiopia stood firm to secure a valuable away point while coach Pitso Mosimane is now without a win in seven games. Soccer Laduma