Bafana on track with a win over Malawi
Brad Morgan
1 October 2008
Bafana Bafana finally managed to find the back of an opponent's net and helped ease the pressure on coach Joel Santana, after a home-based team handed Malawi a 3-0 defeat in Germiston on Tuesday evening.
The Brazilian had been in the firing line after a string of results that included only one win, with the matches marked by South Africa's inability to finish off some good play between the two penalty boxes. This time around striker Bernard Parker found the back of the net twice and Daine Klate added a superb late goal to put the cherry on the top.
More attacking
The result was a very welcome outcome for Santana who used the match to take a look at some players who might have been overlooked in the past and who could strengthen the first choice squad. The result was also a nice reward for the coach's decision to use a more attacking formation than in recent games.
In the early going it was the visitors who did the pressing, forcing SA goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune into a couple of saves, but Bafana Bafana slowly took charge of the game and the Malawians were pushed onto the back foot.
Malawi goalkeeper Trust Lunda rejected an attempt on goal by Parker about 10 minutes into the contest and the warning bells sounded when SA skipper Teko Modise had a clear run on goal but was wide of the mark with his shot.
Breakthrough
Parker then made the breakthrough, netting his first goal for Bafana in the 32nd minute. It came from a Siphiwe Tshabalala corner which Parker headed home with aplomb.
The Thanda Royal Zulu striker's strike saw Bafana head into the break one goal to the good.
After the resumption of play Modise blasted a long distance shot over the Malawian crossbar after making a sharp break.
Malawi skipper James Sangala then blocked another effort by the SA captain and Lunda stopped Parker from netting a second.
Santana, who had made two changes just before halftime, added another three substitutes and one of them, Daine Klate, had a golden opportunity to put South Africa two goals clear when Parker set him up for a shot on goal. Klate, though, was off target with his strike.
Late goals
Parker, though, made sure Bafana Bafana doubled their advantage four minutes later when he slotted home from a pass by substitute Katlego Mashego.
In injury time, Klate ensured the victory was a convincing one by blasting a low shot from outside the area past Lunda to make the final margin 3-0.
When the final whistle sounded Santana found Parker and embraced the striker. No doubt he was grateful that someone had stepped up and eased the pressure on him.
'Good dreams'
The coach let on afterwards that he had been feeling the heat when he commented: "Tonight I will have good dreams for a change."
He also hinted that some players had impressed him and mentioned the names of two-goal hero Parker, Teko Modise, Morgan Gould, Lefa Tsutsylupa, and Siphiwe Tshablala.
Santana added that the win was good for the morale of the national side and said the team had produced the kind of football that fans want to see. "It was fantastic seeing the cheers and reaction of the crowd tonight," he said.
Captain Teko Modise said the biggest problem Bafana Bafana had entering the contest was scoring goals. "We seem to have rectified that and the spirits are sky high," he smiled.
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