South Africa showed their class as they scored six goals in a friendly match against Swaziland played at Durban’s Chatsworth Stadium.
Winning should be a habit for Carlos Alberto Parreira’s men if they are to give a good account of themselves in the World Cup which is just a couple of months away and they made a great start to their preparations playing a blinder against the Swazis.
What a way for Gert Schalky to relaunch his international career that seemed to be disappearing into thin air as he had not been getting game time at club level. His selection into the squad was questioned by many pundits who should be swallowing their doubts now as he gave a five star perfomance along with Katlego Mphela.
Coached by former Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba, Swaziland tried to match their opposition’s short passing game but their lapses in concentration cost them dearly. Gert Schalwyk beat the offside trap to score a beautiful goal in the second minute from an overhead pass off the boot of the fancy-footed Reneilwe.
The goal ignited massive celebrations in the stands and so much jubilation from the technical department led by Carlos Alberto Parreira and assistant coach Pitso Mosimane.
Itumeleng Khune’s aerial short comings were nearly exposed in the 11th minute as he almost punched a Swazi free kick into his own net but his defence was alert enough to clear the ball away.
Schalkwyk was at it again as he benefited from skipper Teko Modise’s intelligent passing in the 24th minute. A defence splitting pass caught the Swaziland defence in sixes and sevens and Schalkwyk took advantage, putting the ball beyond the reach of the advancing Mkhulisi.
The first half had few talking points as Shakes Mashaba‘s troops struggled to find their footing while the captain Modise ran riot in midfield with the support of the evergreen Letsholonyane.
In the 34th minute Katlego Mphela twisted and turned the Isihlangu defence but propelled his effort inches wide of goal. This did not seem to demoralise Mphela, as he came back in the 36th minute to make it 3-0.
The dreadlocked Reneilwe Letsholonyane’s sudden rise to stardom continued in national team colours as his well placed million dollar pass was converted by the red hot Katlego Mphela.
Swaziland's Denis Masina combined well with Tony Tshabetse before he pulled one back in 45th minute with a well struck grass cutter that gave the diving Khune no chance. The goal exposed Bafana’s lack of tactical awareness in the last minutes, something that the Brazilian born mentor should work on.
The referee blew his whistle to end the first half, a half of utmost entertainment for the fans as both sides showed touches on the ball and good off the ball runs.
The second half resumed with a much more renewed sense of urgency as the action swayed from one end to the other, both teams trying to catch the other on the counter.
In the 57th minute super sub Franklin Cale scored a stunning goal as he beat the offside trap before letting fly a screamer that left the Swaziland goalkeeper clutching thin air.
Shakes Mashaba’s charges were not to be outdone as they managed to sneak another goal in the 61st minute from the boot of the experienced Sizwe Dlamini. Bongani Khumalo tried all he could to clear the ball off the line but it was already too late, 4-2 the scoreboard read.
Cale was back again to haunt the visitor's goalkeeper with a shot that was destined for goal from the moment it left his lethal left boot in the 66th minute after the same keeper had acrobatically denied him a goal in 59th minute.
The pace and skill that Cale possesses saw Sihawu Dlamini resorting to illegal methods, hacking the Sundowns winger down with a double footed tackle that left referee Methew Dayer with no choice but send him for an early shower.
Ajax Cape Town youngster Thulani Serero was thrown into the fray for the injured Cale in the 81st minute. Pressure was really mounting on the jittery Swaziland defence as Daine Klate set up another goal which the Swazi defender directed into his own goal under pressure from Tlou Segolela, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
The young Serero made it worse in the 90th minute as he pounced on the a loose ball after the Swazi goalkeeper had fumbled on a Happy Jele powerful drive. Serero need some medical attention after the goal as his initial shot bounced of the keeper to his face and straight into the back of the net.
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário