Staff Reporter.
Banyana Banyana suffered 3-2 defeat against hosts Serbia in an international friendly in Stara Pazova on Monday.
The 35th world-ranked Serbia ran up a 3-0 lead after only 22 minutes of play.
Violeta Slović opened the scoring in the eighth minute, with Milica Mijatović making it 2-0 in the 16th and Jovana Damnjanović added a third without reply in the 22nd.
But Banyana Banyana composed themselves and gradually fought their way back into the contest.
Hildah Magaia swept in a 30th-minute goal to help settle the visitors’ nerves going to the break only two goals behind.
Jermaine Seoposenwe pulled another back in the 79th to make for a nervous final 10 minutes for Serbia.
South Africa were using the friendly against the 35th ranked team in the FIFA ranking as part of preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.