Chipperfield Wonder Strike Earns Draw
A wonder strike from Australian substitute Scott Chipperfield has earned the Socceroos a credible 1-1 draw with South Africa in Durban.
A wonder strike from Australian substitute Scott Chipperfield (pictured right) has earned the Socceroos a credible 1-1 draw with South Africa in Durban.
Chipperfield showed great determination to win a cleared header following a free kick and then sent a fierce volley from 20 metres that left South African keeper Calvin Marlin flapping at thin air, as the ball flew into the back of the net.
“It was a gem,” said Farina after the match. “It illustrated what I said before about pressuring them and he did that, nipped the ball off his opponent and it sat up for him and the strike couldn-t have been any better.”
It capped off a much better second half performance by Australia after going behind to an 11th minute strike by Benni McCarthy.
The match was a story of two halves, with South Africa dominating the first half, while Australia clawed its way back and had slightly the better of the second half.
“To get the draw, I am very happy with that result,” Farina enthused. “The first 20 minutes I was a bit worried as we were under the whip, just sitting back, which we are not comfortable with.
“We played reasonably well for the last 20 minutes of the first half, with Jason (Culina) pushing further up, Emo (Brett Emerton) had a good chance and we stopped their flow and pressured them a bit more.
“I thought our boys did really well, although I still think we have a lot of work to do.”
It was a nervous start by the Socceroos, with South Africa dominating the opening 20 minutes of the game and continually pinning Australia back in its own half.
Using the flanks to good effect, it was no surprise that the Bafana Bafana goal came from good work on the right, which enabled Steven Pienaar to get clear. His cross from the byline, was chested down by Shaun Bartlett to McCarthy and from just inside the penalty box, he drilled a low half volley past Mark Schwarzer.
South Africa should have made it 2-0 minutes later when they again exposed Australia down the right. McCarthy sent Piernaar clear into the box, but Schwarzer managed to divert the midfielders shot from an acute angle for a corner.
Australia-s first real chance did not arrive till the 33rd minute and what a good chance it was. A brilliant ball from Vince Grella picked out Brett Emerton on the left and raced into the box. His shot with his weaker left foot went straight to the keeper, but Marlin spilled it and allowed Emerton a chance to cut the ball back, however Marlin recovered to block it out for a corner.
Australia looked to be more attacking in the second half and in the 53rd minute, Emerton started and finished an attacking move… his shot from the edge of the area slicing wide of the far post.
The first substitutions came 10 minutes into the second half, with debutant Jason Culina forced to leave the field after picking up a knock to his ankle, although it was later confirmed that it was nothing serious.
South African substitute Zuma almost made an immediate impact with two shots at goal, the second one cleared away desperately by Popovic for a corner.
Schwarzer was well placed to save a Vilakazi shot and he then denied young hot-shot Ndlovu, who should have done better when clear in front of goal.
Those misses proved costly, as Chipperfield produced his wonderful strike in the 70th minute.
The last 15 minutes saw Australia slow the play down as if they were playing in an away leg of a World Cup qualifier, although they almost came unstuck in the last minute when Ndlovu headed wide of the near post from four yards.
In between, Chipperfield-s FC Basel teammate Mile Sterjovski had a rare chance, but shot wide of the near post.
Match Details
South Africa 1 (Benni McCarthy 11-) Australia 1 (Scott Chipperfield 70-)
Line-up: Schwarzer (gk); Neill, Moore, Popovic, Vidmar, Grella (Wilkshire 71-), Bresciano (McKain 74-), Culina (Sterjovski 57-), Tiatto (Chipperfield 57-), Emerton (Thompson 66-), Agostino (Vieri 66-) Subs Not Used: Clint Bolton (gk), Stephen Laybutt
Cautions: Bresciano (55-)
Crowd: Approx 25,000