Argentina came from two goals down to hold South Africa to a 2-2 draw in a pulsating FIFA Women's World Cup Finals encounter at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on 28 July, the 8,834 fans present being treated to a rollicking contest between two teams who couldn't afford to lose this Group G encounter. The African champions were first to threaten, veteran Argentine goalkeeper Vanina Correa racing out to save at the feet of Hildah Magaia in the ninth minute as she looked to latch onto Jermaine Seoposenwe's super through ball. Three minutes later, Miriam Mayorga's timely challenge was all that stood between South Africa and the game's opening goal, Thembi Kgatlana denied as she looked to work a one-two with Seoposenwe. This came after the outstanding Bambanani Mbane had stepped in to foil an Argentine attack in which Florencia Bonsegundo and Mariana Larroquette had featured prominently. It was certainly a better example of defending than that produced South Africa in the sixteenth minute, their efforts to clear an Estefania Banini corner being rather Keystone Cops in nature - copybook it most definitely was not! "Banyana Banyana" lost their captain, Refiloe Jane, to what looked to be ankle ligament damage as she landed awkwardly after clashing with Bonsegundo. Her departure on a stretcher was a sobering sight for both teams, but they were soon back at it hammer and tongs in this adventurous encounter between two countries who were meeting each other for the first time ever. South Africa threatened again on the half-hour, Kholosa Biyana's twenty-five yarder being grabbed by Correa after Seoposenwe had just failed to control a pass sourced from an interchange between Linda Motlhalo and Magaia. Seconds later, they took the lead, Biyana intercepting a pass then threading the ball through for Kgatlana, who sauntered towards goal before setting up Motlhalo for a tap-in. The offside flag was aloft, so everyone thought that a defensive free-kick would materialise, but a check by the Video Assistant Referee deemed that Mayorga had kept Kgatlana onside when the ball was played - 1-0 South Africa. Back came "La Albiceleste", Paulina Gramaglia's cross from the right being missed entirely by Swart, allowing Bonsegundo to steal in behind the defence but volley spectacularly past the post. Kgatlana responded by taking off on a swashbuckling run past four opponents before battering the ball over the bar from twenty yards, to which Argentina responded with a 38th minute raid which culminated in Gramaglia's cross-shot deceiving Kaylin Swart and crashing back into play off the far post. Just before the interval, Magaia volleyed over from close range before the offside flag came to Argentina's aid as Kgatlana tucked the ball home. Soon after, Motlhalo came within inches of doubling their lead with virtually the last kick of the half, a twenty yard missile which flew inches past the far post after fine work by Biyana to create the opportunity. The freewheeling nature of the contest continued unabated after the interval, with "Banyana Banyana" butchering a gilt-edged chance to double their lead within two minutes of the resumption of play. Aldana Cometti and Sophia Braun got in a tangle, and Molthalo said "Thankyou very much" and

motored downfield at a great rate of knots. She eventually entered the penalty area and set up a goal on a plate for Kgatlana, but the striker had lost her appetite, somehow steering the ball past the post from four yards with the goal gaping in front of her - as misses go, this one is right up there! Unperturbed, Desiree Ellis' charges pressed again, Kgatlana's 52nd minute cross parting the hair of Magaia, to which "La Albiceleste" responded with a lightning-quick counter-attack, Banini teaming up with half-time substitute Romina Nunez, who evaded two challenges before picking out fellow replacement Julieta Cruz. She volleyed wildly over the bar from eight yards. A flurry of substitutions and a booking - Tiisetso Makhubela wasted little time in making the acquaintance of referee Anna-Marie Keighley just two minutes after entering the fray - punctuated the next few minutes of play before the South Africans threatened again, Magaia's thirty yard free-kick being smothered by Correa. Seconds later, Motlhalo and Kgatlana combined for Sibulele Holweni, who rattled the side-netting in fiercely struck fashion. Argentina retorted instantly, Cometti's relentless battling for possession resulting in an opportunity for Bonsegundo, who stung the gloves of Swart from 25 yards. South Africa doubled their lead in the 66th minute, Kgatlana ramming the ball into the roof of the net from six yards after Seoposenwe got the better of Cometti in the penalty area and invited her team-mate to score the goal her performance fully merited. There looked to be no way back for Argentina from this blow, but they took heart from seeing Lebohang Ramalepe execute a desperate goal-line clearance to prevent substitute Erica Lonigro from pulling one back in the 73rd minute. Indeed, they took a lot of heart from it - within six minutes, the scores were level, with the first of those goals a certain contender for Goal of the Tournament, Braun's twenty-five yard thunderbolt careering into the top right-hand corner of Swart's goal - an unstoppable strike to reduce the deficit in the 74th minute. Five minutes later, charismatic substitute Yamila Rodriguez picked out Nunez with a pinpoint cross, inviting the half-time substitute to guide a twelve-yard header beyond the reach of Swart and into the bottom far corner of the net - 2-2, a scoreline no one had seen coming to pass. It set up a grandstand finish, and both teams duly went for it. Remarkably, just one opportunity of note came to pass in the time remaining, despite the endeavour of all on the park. It fell Magaia's way, as she sent the ball blazing over the bar in the 88th minute. 2-2 it remained, however - how Kgatlana must rue her failure to convert that golden chance from four yards with the goal at her mercy straight after half-time. That was the difference between a win and a share of the spoils for the South Africans, who, like Argentina, now have to win their final game, with Italy to face Desiree Ellis' side and Sweden lying in wait for the South Americans. Argentina:     Correa; Braun, Mayorga (booked, 45), Cometti, Stabile; Falfan (Nunez, 46), Bonsegundo, Benitez (Cruz, 46); Gramaglia (Rodriguez, 59), Larroquette (Lonigro, 69)), Banini Sth Africa:     Swart; Ramalepe, Mbane, Gamede, Dhlamini; Jane (Biyana, 25 (booked, 43 (Makhubela, 54 (booked, 56)))), Motlhalo (Kgoale, 83), Cesane (Holweni, 54); Seoposenwe, Magaia, Kgatlana (Kgadiete, 83) Referee:     Anna-Marie Keighley (New Zealand)