France could not fail after losing the first match and did not fail. Of course, suffering a lot to defeat South Africa 4-3 in a fast-paced game full of emotion until the last moment.
The ‘Bleu’ team came out with impetus looking for the goal of the African team with a volley from Florian Thauvin that rejected the defense, but as the first half progressed France was deflating and South Africa grew, putting the French goalkeeper to the test Bernardoni.
So much was the jug to the source that the South Africans ended up finding a great opportunity to advance. Penalty committed by Lucas Tousart who was executing Luther singh and missed, sending his shot to the crossbar.
No goals in the first half, the second gave us up to seven goals. In the 53rd minute, South Africa took advantage of a new gift from the French defense to advance through Kobamelo Kodisang.
France quickly reacted, and it was going to do so through its great offensive reference, the forward André-Pierre Gignac, who four minutes later scored the tying goal 1-1.
But the Bafana Bafana, far superior to the European team, were once again ahead on the scoreboard. In minute 72, Evidence Makgopa it marked the second for South Africa.
Again the French team had to react again, and it did so immediately and again through Gignac. The 35-year-old forward made the match at two thanks to a good header to center from Michelin.
The joy was going to last little in the painting ‘Bleu’, since 3 minutes later Teboho Mokoena put South Africa ahead for the third time in the game at Saitama Stadium.
When the game seemed to go to the African side, a few final minutes of heart attack arrived. Gignac completed his hat-trick converting a penalty in the 86th minute and tying the match at three goals, and in injury time, Teji Savanier He made France go crazy by scoring the final 4-3, past who else, Gignac, the man of the match.
With victory France He reaches the last round third with 3 points, the same as Mexico, which is second. South Africa for his part, he still has not released his points locker in these Olympic Games and hopes for a miracle to go to the quarterfinals.