Ladies in shacky olympics start

Category: Football Created on Thursday, 26 July 2012 15:14 Published Date

26-07-2012
by MTHULISI SIBANDA
South Africa Bureau
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – The wonder goal scored by South Africa’s Portia Modise was the only positive as Africa’s quest for an Olympic medal in the world’s most popular sport got off to a damp squib in London.

In the 59th minute, with Sweden cruising 3-0 over South Africa in the City of Coventry Stadium, en route to their biggest Olympic win, a misplaced pass saw Modise pounce on the ball ten yards inside her own half.

Carrying it just beyond the centre-circle, she spotted Hedvig Lindahl off her line and unleashed a powerful right-footed lob which sailed beyond the keeper’s dive and into the net.

“I saw early in the game that the goalkeeper's weakness was always coming off her line so I took a shot and it came off,” she explained after the match.

The super effort meanwhile was insufficient to salvage a result for the debutantes against the powerful Swedes, who eventually won 4-1.

Elsewhere, Cameroon fared no better against favourites Brazil.

Superstar Marta scored twice in Cardiff as Brazil thrashed the debutants 5-0 to begin their hunt for Olympic gold in style.

The results condemn South Africa and Ghana to the bottom of their groups.