Banyana Banyana’s tour in the US kicked off with a disappointing 3-0 defeat.
However, coach Desiree Ellis has drawn some positives ahead of their second friendly match in Chicago on Sunday.
South Africa suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of the third-ranked Americans in an international friendly match played at the TQL Stadium on Friday morning (SA time).
Trinity Rodman and a Lynn Williams brace steered the Americans to a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Women’s African Cup of Nations champions.
In the opening 30 minutes of the game, Banyana looked lively and seemed to have settled in the game until Williams struck in the 32nd minute.
There was a noticeable lapse in concentration after the first goal and the Americans quickly extended their lead two minutes later through Rodman, whose shot slotted past goalkeeper Kaylin Swart.
Williams completed her brace just before half-time, and the home side was firmly in the driving seat at the break.
Ellis made a few changes in the second-half and her side tried to get back into the game, but did not create enough clear-cut chances to break the deadlock.
“We always speak about picking up and if you look at the first goal, we did not pick up,” Ellis told Safa media after the match.
“You look at the second goal; marking on the wrong side, and it came quickly after the first goal. Even the third goal, we didn’t pick up and those are moments of lapses of concentration.
“But I thought we ended the game really well and there were certain things that we were looking at like how we transitioned to attack, which I think we did really well.”
Ellis said she will be hoping her side will be more organised in defence when the two sides meet in what will be a farewell match for US legend Megan Rapinoe.
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