Banyana Banyana were left heartbroken on Sunday, conceding a 90th-minute goal to lose 2-1 to Sweden in their World Cup opener in Wellington on Sunday.
The South Africans took a shock 1-0 lead in the 48th minute through Hilda Magaia, but goals from Sweden's Fridolina Rolfo (65th minute) and Amanda Ilestedt (90) extinguished any chance of a fairytale.
Banyana soaked up wave after wave of Swedish pressure in the relentless rain, and this was always going to be a testing outing for the African champions, who entered the World Cup 54th on the FIFA rankings while Sweden are 3rd.
Coach Desiree Ellis's charges are next in action when they take on Argentina on Friday in a match they cannot lose if they are to keep their qualification hopes alive.
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