Banyana Banyana booked their spot in Thursday’s Cosafa Women’s Championship semi-finals after beating Mozambique in Gqeberha on Monday.
Soon afterwards, there were scoring efforts from Gabriela Salgado and Robyn Moodaly, but the shaky Mozambique defence remained intact after powderpuff attempts. For about 30 minutes, the Mozambique goalkeeper Eva Costa lived a charmed life as Banyana Banyana's efforts in the striking zone made this passage of time look like a training session.
Holweni should have been on the scoresheet again 15 minutes later, but she hoofed her scoring attempt over the crossbar from point-blank range after Mozambique cleared poorly from a corner. When second-half play resumed, Salgado pounced a stray ball after shoddy defence by Mozambique. She had a clear run on goal from the edge of the penalty, but her shot was well wide after Costa came well off her line to challenge.
As was the case in the first half, Mozambique relied on occasional counter-attacks to keep their challenge alive and just past the hour mark, they staged one with telling effect. Mozambique's Lucia Jose managed to shake off her marker as she set off down the lef,t and her goalmouth cross was expertly met with a scoring header from captain Cina Manuel .