Africa's number one ranked team Algeria came from a goal down to beat a wasteful South Africa 3-1 in their opening Africa Nations Cup Group C game on Monday.
After going 1-0 ahead South Africa then missed a penalty and lost their way allowing Algeria back into a game in which they could have been 4-0 down in by the time the penalty was missed.
In losing in Mongomo, the South Africans lost their first game in 11 matches under coach Shakes Mashaba.
The missed penalty by Tokelo Rantie straight after South Africa’s opening goal was the turning point and the Algerians applied the pressure and knocked the confidence of the Bafana players.
Algeria started the game well and enjoyed most of the ball possession inside the opening ten minutes, spraying the ball wide and using both flanks to exert pressure on Bafana Bafana.
Two early tests came in for Bafana goalkeeper Darren Keet. The first was a swerving free kick, which he gathered at the second attempt and then a low save after a flicked-in header.
In the 17th minute South Africa broke forward and Tokelo Rantie’s pace almost fashioned a scoring chance when the Algerian defence mis-judged Rantie’s blistering pace.
Three minutes later and Keet was in action once more, making a save from Yacine Brahimi’s long range effort, which had power but not direction.
22 Minutes into the game and Rantie broke free again and chased a ball over the top, which he got to but could not connect his show properly on his left foot as he left the Algerian defenders for dead.
A minute later Dean Furman rattled the crossbar with a wonderful long range attempt on goal, which just got the fingertips of goalkeeper Rais Mbohli.
On the half hour mark Rivaldo Coetzee had to be replaced by Siyabonga Nhlapo after a recurrence of his knee injury forced the teenager off the field.
Bafana should have taken the lead in the 42nd minute when they weaved their way into the danger area and into a good position, but Sibusiso Vilakazi took too long to pull the trigger and Mbohli saved.
Two minutes later and Andile Jali’s close range shot was saved after Oupa Manyisa put him behind the defence with a clinical pass.
Five minutes into the second half and Vilakazi could only put his header wide of goal from Thuso Phala’s corner kick.
But the very next minute and South Africa went ahead when Thuso Phala finished off a fantastic short passing move. Vilakazi started the move on the left flank and played a quick pass with Rantie, which ended up on Phala’s foot right in front of goal and he placed his shot.
Two minutes later and Vilakazi was brought down inside the area following a pass by Phala. But Rantie struck he crossbar with a venomous penalty kick.
In the 56th minute Keet made a great double save; first he blocked a shot with his legs and then the follow header on goal he turned onto the crossbar and into safety.
Another very good chance for Bafana to net a goal when Nhlapo did very well to square the ball to Rantie who mis-kicked from close range.
But Algeria were back in the game in the 67th minute when Brahimi’s curling pass into the danger area was flicked on and over his own goalkeeper by Hlatshwayo for an own goal.
Then, in the 72nd minute, Faouzi Ghoulam got around Manyisa on the left flank and burst into the 18 area and his powerful driven left-footed shot gave Keet no chance at his near post.
Islam Slimani stuck the final nail into the coffin in the 83rd minute when he struck a first time left footed shot under the body of Keet who should have done a lot better.