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Group C - S.Africa-S.Arabia Saudis stymie South Africa |
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Not even Shaun Bartlett's big day, one nurtured in childhood at a time it seemed impossible to attain, could keep South Africa alive in its first World Cup.
Bartlett scored twice Wednesday but couldn't prevent a 2-2 tie with Saudi Arabia that knocked his team out of the tournament. Both Saudi goals came on penalty kicks.
Like all the South African players, Bartlett grew up during the 28 years his country was banned from international soccer because of apartheid. Before the tournament, Bartlett said he used to imagine himself scoring a World Cup goal.
"When I scored the first goal, I just saw myself playing in the second round," Bartlett said. "I was really excited. But in the end, the excitement is all gone."
South Africa needed to win and make up a four-goal deficit to Denmark in goal difference in order to stay in the tournament. France defeated the Danes 2-1 in the other Group C finale, and both those teams advanced.
The South Africans and the Saudis go home.
"It was a nice show by our players, but we have to continue to work harder to improve our play. I was expecting a better result," South Africa coach Philippe Troussier said.
Troussier said South Africa's inexperience showed during the tournament, and that his players lacked the will to win.
"I really never felt that there was that collective commitment on the part of everyone," said Troussier, who sent two players home last week for staying out all night and openly clashed with others.
The Saudis already were eliminated from contention entering the match and played under new coach Mohammed al-Kharashi, a longtime assistant, after Brazilian Carlos Albert Parreira was fired following their 4-0 loss to France.
"I'm very happy. Even though we're out of the tournament, we proved we could do something at the end," al-Kharashi said. "I wish we had played like this before. We would have qualified."
Sami al-Jaber scored Saudi Arabia's first penalty in first-half injury time and captain Youssef al-Thyniyan scored the second in the 74th minute.
Saudi midfielder Nawaf Al-Temiyat said, "We feel we had a very good match. The result is very honorable. I thank our supporters. It will be better next time."
Bartlett's second goal, also a penalty, came in second-half injury time. His first was a left-footed striker in the 18th minute that caught goalie Mohammed al-Deayea out of position.
Both penalties against South Africa involved defender Pierre Issa. On the first, near the end of the first half, al-Thyniyan fell in the penalty area after Issa brushed him with an outstretched arm.
Al-Jaber took the penalty, beating South African goalkeeper Hans Vonk high to the left side.
The second call came in the 73rd minute after Issa wrestled with substitute Ibrahim al-Shahrani for the ball, eventually pulling him down. Sanchez immediately pointed to the spot, and al-Thyniyan beat Vonk low, again to the left.
Bartlett called the two penalties against Issa disappointing, but he refused to criticize the calls.
"The performance of the Saudis was surprising for us," he said. "They had the best counterattack of any team I've seen so far."
