Philadelphia Union 'keeper Rais Mbolhi and Algeria came away with a 3-1 win against South Africa in their Africa Cup of Nations Group C opener on Monday, but not after suffering a major scare.
On three different occasions in the first half, Mbolhi made key saves to snuff out dangerous South African attacks, but there was nothing he could do when Bafana Bafana took the shock lead in the 51st minute. Three South African forwards used some nifty passing to carve up the Algerian back line with Thuso Phala applying an easy finish at the edge of the six-yard box.
Just moments later, Mbolhi was forced to stare down a penalty kick, but South Africa's Tokelo Rantie struck the crossbar, leaving the door open for the Algerian comeback that started in the 67th minute via an own goal by South Africa defender Thulani Hlatshwyo.
Seconds after the equalizer, Mbolhi prevented another South Africa lead with a massive kick save and the Algerians finished off the job with a marauding run at goal by left back Faouzi Ghoulam (72nd minute) and a capper by forward Islam Slimani (83rd minute) which slipped under the South African 'keeper.
In the first Group C match on Monday, new Chicago Fire Designated Player David Accam, who was signed back on Dec. 19, came off the bench for Ghana in the 87th minute, earning his first-ever appearance for the Black Stars senior side.
But Accam, who came on for Ghana goal-scorer Andrew Ayew (14th-minute penalty kick) with the match tied 1-1, watched his team give up a heartbreaking, stoppage-time game-winner to Senegal's Moussa Sow.
Accam and Ghana will hope to turn things around in their second group match on Jan. 23 when they take on group leaders Mbolhi and Algeria.
