Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis fired a salvo at the national team’s striking unit following the heart-breaking 2-2 draw against Argentina on Friday morning.
South Africa threw away a 2-0 lead in their second FIFA Women’s World Cup Group G match at the Dunedin Stadium with Ellis expressing her disappointment with her attackers’ decision-making in the final third.
Ellis’ charges had taken the lead via goals from Linda Motlhalo and Thembi Kgatlana in either half before Argentina hit back with late strikes by Sophia Braun and Romina Nunez.
The draw saw Banyana register their first-ever point at the global showpiece. However, the result also dashed their chances of reaching the knockout stages with one game remaining against Italy.
Banyana created numerous clear-cut opportunities but failed to convert. With that said, the defence was again found wanting as they let in two goals in the latter stages of the clash.
ELLIS ON BANYANA ATTACKERS
“I don’t think it is the defence, to be honest, I think the defence I think the defence held out well. It’s the chances that we create,” said. Ellis: “It’s the moments that we get into the final third, and we make the wrong decisions. When the players that are running free in on goal.
“If you make better decisions, we talk differently once again. You cannot create all those chances, and they [Argentina] get those two chances at the back, and they score,” added Desiree Ellis.
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“It’s about taking our chances and making better decisions in the final third when we are running through.
“It doesn’t matter who scores. it’s about putting someone in, who’s in a better position, who has a better opportunity to score. That’s the problem, that we don’t take those chances. It comes back to haunt us every time.”
Banyana will take on Italy in their last group-stage encounter on Wednesday, 02 August.