| After two
matches Morocco were on a good way to break their Nations Cup jinx. They
had played a good opening match against Ghana in which they were the better
team but blew the best chances.
After improving in
the scoring sector against Burkina Faso they went into the final group
match with the group lead to defend and against a surprisingly careful
South African squad they seemed to play exactly right to preserve the draw
and possibly even take the lead.
But a tactical change
of their opponents and a blunder in defence brought the South African lead
with their first chance of the match. From then on the psychological pressure
mounted and short after halftime another huge error provided the decision
for the South Africans before Morocco really coould have reacted to the
new situation.
So a short period of
time spoiled what had been build up by hard work on a pitch (and in a heat)
on which all those other short passing North African teams did not get
far either. |
