Head coach Desiree Ellis believes a failure to convert their chances is what ultimately cost her disappointed Banyana Banyana side victory against Argentina in a Group G stage clash on Friday at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
After defeat to Sweden in their opening match, the African champions needed victory over Argentina to put themselves in a good position to qualify for the knockout stages.
It all seemed to be going according to plan as striker Thembi Kgatlana set-up Linda Motlhalo for an opening goal in the first half. Kgatlana then doubled the lead with a second goal in the 66th minute.
READ | Banyana secure first World Cup point against Argentina
However, Argentina managed to salvage a point, by scoring twice in a space of five minutes through Sophia Braun and Romina Nunez, prompting a frustrated Kgatlana to highlight Banyana's defensive frailty in a post-match press conference.
"I think we need to work more on our defence, because we are a team that scores, but we also concede and that's what takes away the goals from us," the attacker said.
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— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 28, 2023
In complete contrast, Ellis believes the problem was upfront.
"I don't think it's the defence to be honest, I think the defence held out really well," Ellis said post-match.
"It's the chances we create. It's moments we are in the final third and we make the wrong decisions when there are players that are running in on goal.
"If we make better decisions, we talk differently. Once again, you cannot create all those chances and they (Argentina) got those two chances at the back and they score.
"It's about taking our chances. It's about 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 has in a better position, who has a chance to score. That's the problem, that we don't take those chances.
"It comes back to haunt us every time. So, you cannot say, like Thembi says, the defence [is the problem]. Our defence has been magnificent.
"We are always going to be a team that creates chances then when goals go in [against us], we look at the defence, but we need to look a little bit further up, why are we not passing to someone who is free? Why are we not taking our chances? If we take our chances, we are having a different conversation.
"We were in complete control of the game, we just needed to take u chances and we didn't.
The result leaves Banyana in third place in Group G. They take on Italy on Wednesday in the final group stage match.
Kick-off is at 09:00 (SA time).
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