As they go ready to play the Czech Republic in their World Cup Group A match in Atlanta on Thursday, Bafana Bafana has played in the US eight times but has only won once.
After losing their opening games to South Korea and Mexico, respectively, and having to wait a long time to compete in the world finals, both teams will be eager to triumph.
The Czechs haven’t attended the World Cup since 2006, and South Africa is making their first trip since 2010.
Bafana’s record on US land is as follows: they have played eight games, won one, drawn three, and lost four. This is not a very positive statistic because they have also suffered some significant losses.
The first was a sobering experience as they lost 4-0 to Mexico in a friendly in Los Angeles in 1993. As they struggled to reach the necessary level for international football, it was the first time they had faced a team from outside of Africa.
After being invited to the US Cup, they would not return for another seven years, but things did not significantly improve.
Benni McCarthy and Thabo Mngomeni scored goals as Coach Trott Moloto’s team lost 4-0 to the United States in Washington and then 4-2 to Mexico in Dallas.
Shaun Bartlett’s goal in a 2-1 loss to the Republic of Ireland in New York marked the end of a miserable campaign.
The team was much more competitive when they returned to the United States for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In their first game in Carson, they upset Mexico 2-1 thanks to goals from Phil Evans and Elrio van Heerden, two unlikely players.
They then had a 3-3 draw with Jamaica in Los Angeles, when they had three leads but were unable to win.
The goals were scored by Siyabonga Nomvethe, Lungisani Ndlela, and Abram Raselemane.
Siyabonga Nkosi’s equalizer in their last group match, a 1-1 draw with Guatemala in Houston, advanced them to the quarterfinals.
They played Panama there in Houston as well, and while they drew 1-1, they lost 5-3 on penalties. Ricardo Katza missed his penalty, but Ndlela scored throughout the match.
As a result, Bafana has given up 20 goals in eight games played in the United States, five of them came after the 80th minute. They were able to get a score of ten.
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