A 10-man South Africa U-23 team gave a dent to Brazil’s quest for a maiden football Olympic gold medal as they held the South American football giants and hosts of this year’s Olympics to a goalless draw in their group A opening match.
Barcelona star Neymar, who has been tasked with restoring pride to Brazil after a humiliating 7-1 to German in the last World Cup failed to provide the flying.
Group A is now in a four-way tie on one point after Iraq and Denmark also played to a scoreless draw earlier yesterday.
The Olympic gold is the only title missing from Brazil’s trophy cabinet but their football is at an all-time low receding tide. A rather heart-breaking recent survey, carried out before the shocking first-round elimination in the Copa America Centenario, pointed to the conclusion that more than 90 percent of Brazilians now have little interest in their national team.
Sadly, the home fans were not treated to the victory procession many expected from a Brazilian side not only boasting Neymar, but also Manchester City’s new £27-million signing Gabriel Jesus and Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain.
The first half was an action-packed affair; with both sides creating a number of clear-cut chances to break the deadlock with the first chance of the match falling to South Africa’s Lebo Mothiba, who saw his goal-bound effort snapped up by Wéverton in the Brazil goal.
The hosts hit back with a response just two minutes later, Thiago Maia firing over the crossbar from outside the box.
After a brief lull in play, the match sprang to life again just before the half-hour mark. Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune did well to deny Barcelona forward Neymar, before Rodrigo Caio headed high and wide from close range.
South Africa’s Khune would prove to be a pivotal figure after the half-time break, denying Brazil on more than one occasion to keep Amaglug-glug in the contest.
His sterling performance in goal proved crucial as South Africa were reduced to ten men on the hour mark after Mvala brought down Zeca with a clumsy challenge to pick up his second yellow card of the game.
The hosts looked certain to break the deadlock in the 69th minute when Gabriel Jesus broke free of his marker on the right-hand side of the six-yard box, but his powerful shot struck the post, letting South Africa off the hook.
Brazil endured a frustrating afternoon in Brasilia as South Africa held their guard despite being a man less.
The line-ups:
Brazil:
Weverton, Zeca, Ciao, Santos, Marquinhos, Maia, Augusto, Anderson, Neymar, Gabigol, Gabriel Jesus
South Africa:
Khune, Mekoa, Mobara, Coetzee, Mathoho, Mvala, Motupa, Dolly, Modiba, Masuku, Mothiba
