SAFA News – Evidence Makgopa was the toast of Bafana Bafana who had to come from a goal down at half time to defeat Uganda 3-2 in a pulsating friendly international match played at Orlando Stadium on Thursday, 10 June 2021.
Uganda took the lead on the 15th minute through a header by Ibrahim Orit after some enterprising work on the right and the gangling striker finished off with a good header.
The visitors could have gone two goals up moments later but captain Emmanuel Okwi sliced his effort wide moments after taking the lead with only goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams to beat.
The home team struggled to open up the visitors defence in the opening 45 minutes but Makgopa who came in as a second half substitute, together with Thabiso Kutumela had other ideas as he changed the complexion of the game in the last 45 minutes.
First Makgopa found the equaliser with an angled shot and moments later Bongokuhle Hlongwane completed the remarkable turnaround with another brilliant strike to make it 2-1.
The Ugandans who had dominated the first half, looked stunned as the new look Bafana Bafana poured forward looking for more goals. Makgopa could have made it 3-1 in another spirited attack but his lob was well saved by Ugandan goalkeeper Isima Watenga who had come out to narrow the angle.
But the tall striker was however not going to be denied his brace and headlines for long as his powerful shot from an acute angle beat Watenga hands down to give Bafana Bafana a 3-1 cushion.
The visitors scored their second goal deep into injury time to reduce the arrears and set up a tense finish but nothing was going to stop coach Helman Mkhalele a great victory with this new-look Bafana Bafana side.
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