Goals from Siyabonga Sangweni and Lehlohonolo Majoro took Africa Cup of Nations hosts South Africa to a crucial 2-0 win over Angola at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Wednesday.
Bafana Bafana moved, temporarily at least, to the top of Group A on four points and will be confident of claiming a place in the quarterfinals when they take on Morocco on Sunday. As for the Sable Antelopes, it was a brave performance but they were ultimately outclassed by their hungrier opponents.
Bafana coach Gordon Igesund made five changes to the line-up after the goalless draw with Cape Verde, the most notable of which saw Katlego Mphela and Tokelo Rantie start together up front.
The home were much improved from their weekend performance and threatened in an attacking sense from the early minutes, though it was actually Angola who had the first genuine effort at goal – a low shot from Mateus that flashed across the six-yard box and had goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune worried.
From then on, however, it was almost all South Africa. Dean Furman and May Mahlangu provided energy and penetration in midfield, while both Mphela and Rantie were seemingly given license to shoot on sight.
Ironically it was defender Siyabonga Sangweni who broke the deadlock on the half hour mark. Bernard Parker’s cross into the box was headed up in the air by Angola’s Lunguinha – the dropping ball fell kindly for Sangweni at the back post, who drove a low volley beyond goalkeeper Lama to make it 1-0.
The Sable Antelopes created one great chance to equalise a couple of minutes before the break, with Manucho’s looping header finding Mateus unmarked in the penalty area, but the attacker wildly slashed his effort off target.
Angola threatened a comeback in the early stage of the second half, with Khune called upon to make a sharp save to keep out a low shot from Afonso in the 52nd minute, but South Africa soon reasserted their dominance.
On 54 minutes Dean Furman almost netted his first Bafana goal with a long range shot that was tipped around the post by Lama.
Just past the hour mark, substitutes and Kaizer Chiefs players Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Lehlohonolo Majoro combined to score the crucial second goal. The former’s long pass set the latter into space, and the striker proceeded to beat a defender before scoring with a low shot between the goalkeeper’s legs.
Majoro’s goal took the stuffing out of Angola, though they did offer a few threatening moments through the aerial power of Manucho – yet Khune remained alert in Bafana’s goal and ensured a second straight clean sheet in the tournament.
Courtesy Supersport
Read article AFCON 2013: South Africa score first victory over Angola!»
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