Johannesburg- South African players rued a number of missed chances as the hosts were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Iraq as the eight-nation Confederations Cup got underway in Johannesburg on Sunday. The hosts missed several late opportunities in the Group A clash that was generally a tame affair before a near sell-out crowd of some 49,000 at Ellis Park with President Jacob Zuma and FIFA president Joseph Blatter among the spectators.
To the continuous buzz of vuvuzelas - the plastic trumpets blown by South African football fans - the Bafana Bafana enjoyed plenty of the ball but left it late before threatening the Iraq goal.
Midfielder Macbeth Sibaya admitted that the players were very disappointed with the result. "We had the chances to win the game, but could just not get the ball into the back of the net.
"We are disappointed with just one point from the game, we really tried hard to get all three."
Iraqi players, on the other hand, treated the draw like a victory and celebrated after the final whistle.
Nashat Akram, who will be joining FC Twente in the Dutch league after the tournament, said that for them the draw was a good result that kept them in the race for a place in the next round.
"We wanted to give some happiness to the people of Iraq and I think we managed to do that with this result. We played against a strong side who are the hosts of the tournament and for that I think we got a good result.
"Now we are looking forward to our next game and we are hoping that we can do well again."
Iraq's Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic said that he was satisfied with the result. "To play against the home side is not an easy thing and I think that we did well to get a draw. I see it as a point won."
The best opportunity in the Group A encounter came six minutes from time but was almost a comical affair when Bernard Parker inadvertently cleared a header from team-mate Kagisho Dikgacoi off the line.
Goalkeeper Mohammed Kassis had misjudged a cross and Dikgacoi's header would have crossed the line had Parker, who had his back to the ball, not been in the way.
It was one of the few mistakes by Kassis, who was much the busier of the two keepers, with Milutinovic obviously out to get a point for his team which has failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals.
"My goalkeeper had nothing to do in the match," South Africa coach Joel Santana said. "Bafana Bafana had good control of the game."
Parker had minutes earlier seen a shot saved by Kassid, and substitute Katlego Mashego was foiled by the goalkeeper when through on a long ball.
Thembinkosi Fanteni also went close with a header over the bar from a corner, minutes after Teko Modise sliced a shot over as the hosts suddenly broke out of their lethargy.
Until the late flurry there had been little danger for the Iraq defence, with the only chance of the first half going to Sibaya whose shot across goal in the 14th minute would have found the net but for the fingertips of the keeper.
The hosts came out after the break with more urgency, and Parker got an angled shot on target - but straight at the keeper - in the 49th minute.
Iraq - with the youngest and smallest squad at the eight-nation tournament - were able to deal comfortably with the hosts' attacking endeavours, while showing little enterprise themselves going forward.
Santana had wanted "top class" football from his side, but got neither that nor the maximum points to raise confidence in a group also featuring European champions Spain and New Zealand, who were playing later.
It was thus not surprising that South African defender Matthew Booth, whose every touch of the ball was accompanied by a supportive roar of Booooooooth by the crowd, struggled to find a positive side to the game.
"I suppose the only good thing to come from the match is that our opening game is over," he said.
