November 17, 2009 CLEARED AWAY Richards almost scores vs. South Africa
Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards had the best scoring chance of the match in Jamaica's 0-0 draw with South Africa. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa -- Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards almost scored against South Africa, but Jamaica was forced to settle for a scoreless draw with the World Cup hosts in an international friendly Tuesday.
Richards almost scored as he beat the South African goalkeeper, but team captain Aaron Mokoena cleared the ball off the line.
It was considered the best chance by either team.
South Africa, directed by former Brazilian World Cup and MetroStars coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, has been struggling as a team in its preparations as host. Banafa Banafa was played for its fourth consecutive match. South Africa played Japan to a 0-0 tie in Port Elizabeth Saturday.
In 18 games this year, the South Africans have recorded a 5-10-3 mark, scoring but 10 goals.
"It was a real game only in the first half. The Jamaicans kept falling down after half-time and there were so many stoppages the rhythm of the match was destroyed.
"We should have beaten Japan and Jamaica so there is a lot of hard work ahead and I am not helped by the fact that Bafana do not play again this year," Parreira was quoted by Agence-France Presse.
The game was played at Free State Stadium, the same ground in which the U.S. upset then top-ranked Spain in the FIFA Confederations Cup in June.
The Jamaicans failed to reach the World Cup for the third consecutive time, after reaching France '98.
"I am on a rebuilding mission after Jamaica failed to qualify for the World Cup," Reggae Boyz coach Theodore Whitemore told AFP. "There were a lot of very young footballers out there tonight who impressed me."
