The World Cup tune-up was a good run out for both sides ahead of a second clash in Cape Town on Tuesday, but there will be nagging disappointment that Bafana Bafana could not get a win against a team 26 places above them in the FIFA Rankings.
Here are the talking points from the clash.
Two big misses … start of a theme
Oswin Appollis had the first real opening of the game and should have done better. He was played into acres of space on the right-hand side of the box and with the time to shoot, fired straight at Panama goalkeeper Luis Mejia. The visitors’ defence had gone AWOL and Appollis, usually a consummate finisher, could not capitalise. Shortly afterwards Lyle Foster rounded the keeper after a poor back-pass but could not finish from a tight angle as the shot went wide. Two huge chances for Bafana in the opening 20 minutes.
Panama lead
Panama hit the front with a clinical finish. Bafana had looked shaky at the back with their passing, and when Khuliso Mudau gave away possession, Yoel Barcenas made him pay as he picked up possession, danced his way through the box and fired a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. It was a good finish, but poor defensive play from the hosts. With a new-look centre-back pairing of the inexperienced Khulumani Ndamane and Ime Okon, perhaps that was to be expected.
Tshepang Moremi shoots wide
Bafana were finding space behind the Panama defence and Tshepang Moremi found a shooting chance, but dragged his shot narrowly wide of the post. It means that from three big chances, Bafana had hit the target once through Appollis. That is something they will have to improve ahead of the World Cup.
Another miss …
Some excellent interplay between Appollis and Foster saw the latter one-on-one with the replacement goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, who had just come on for the injured Mejia, but the Burnley striker could not beat the gloveman. Ime Okon then headed wide when well placed from a free-kick. Bafana were creating plenty of good opportunities, just not taking them.
Level at last
Bafana started the second half in the same vein and finally took one of their chances, with their most prolific player over the last 18 months, Appollis, finding the back of the net for his eighth international goal. A cross to the back post was headed into his path by Mudau, and Appollis thrashed the ball into the back of the net on 49 minutes.
Themba Zwane sparkles
Not everything he touched worked, but Themba Zwane was a breath of fresh air in the side. Clever passes, intelligent use of the ball and a mostly assured touch, it was a fantastic return for him in his first cap since October 2024. He was replaced by Relebohile Mofokeng on the hour-mark.
Good display, disappointing result
Had Bafana been more clinical in front of goal, they would have won comfortably and that is the big takeaway from this game. It was a good performance bar the final third, they offered Panama nothing at the back and the visitors only scored off a mistake, rather than prising Bafana open at the back. Hugo Broos will be disappointed they did not win, but there was also lots to like. Onwards to Cape Town on Tuesday.
