There was no shortage of goals or drama on the opening day of the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 qualifier in Durban yesterday, with 33 shots finding the net in the three games and a controversial sudden-death penalty shootout adding to the excitement.
Nigeria were easy 13-0 winners over Mauritius in a one-sided tournament opener but thereafter it was action all the way as, first, Senegal needed a couple of brave refereeing decisions to scrape past newcomers Libya in a sudden-death 4-3 penalty shootout after the match finished 7-7, and then South Africa were beaten by a slick Moroccan side in a match that could easily have gone the other way.
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The disappointing 4-2 loss for the hosts means they need to beat the potent Cote d'Ivoire outfit on Friday to have any chance of going through to the semi-finals on Saturday.
South Africa also need Morocco to be beaten by the Ivoreans on Thursday, or their hopes of going any further in the tournament will end.
| Yassine clinically drove home two blistering goals |
In other matches on Friday Egypt will be aiming for a big win against Mauritius and Mozambique face a tough tournament opener against Libya.
South Africa created enough chances to secure a solid victory but their struggle to hit the target when in front of goal meant it was always going to be an uphill struggle.
In contrast, lanky Moroccan striker Salhi Yassine clinically drove home two blistering goals, one a powerful field goal and the other a dubious penalty, in the final six minutes to secure victory for the Moroccans.
South Africa opened the scoring when Phakathi Nduduzo was on hand to slot home after Bhengu Phumelele's scorcher was parried by Moroccan goalkeeper El Khal Abdelmhajid.
Two goals from burly striker Quadouch Jawad saw the teams end the first period with Morocco one goal to the good. At the end of the second period, the scores were level once more, thanks to Mthembu Thando's blistering free kick which gave Abdelmhajid no chance.
The third and last period was 12 minutes of tough, uncompromising beach soccer, with the outcome in doubt until Yassine's two strikes ended South African hopes of victory and probably killed their hopes of qualifying for the tournament finals in Dubai.
- This article was originally published on page 14 of The Mercury on July 02, 2009
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