Bafana Bafana were left frustrated on home soil after settling for a 1-1 result against Panama in Durban, despite controlling large parts of the encounter, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The visitors struck first against the run of play in the 23rd minute, punishing a lapse at the back to take a lead they held onto heading into halftime.
South Africa had already begun asserting themselves before the break, but their dominance in possession and territory failed to translate into goals.
Hugo Broos’ side wasted little time responding after the restart, with Oswin Appollis bringing the hosts level just three minutes into the second half with a well-taken finish in the 48th minute.
From there, Bafana continued to dictate the tempo, pushing forward in search of a winner while Panama sat deeper and relied on limited opportunities.
The numbers reflected South Africa’s control, with ESPN statistics showing 64.1% possession, 12 attempts on goal compared to Panama’s three, and five shots on target against just two from the visitors.
They also won more corners and spent extended periods camped in the opposition half, but a lack of sharpness in the final third proved costly.
Despite their dominance, clear-cut chances were not taken, allowing Panama to hold firm and secure a result away from home.
The visitors, ranked higher by FIFA, made the most of minimal possession and ensured their early goal counted.
For Broos, the performance offers both encouragement and concern ahead of the return fixture in Cape Town on Tuesday, as Bafana look to improve their finishing and turn control into results during the international break.
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