Bafana beat Burkina Faso 2-0
5 July 2004
South Africa's national soccer team, Bafana Bafana, registered their second win in their 2006 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on the weekend when they beat Burkina Faso 2-0 at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
In a game dominated by South Africa, midfielder Steven Pienaar and striker Shaun Bartlett scored in the 13th and 32nd minutes respectively to help erase the pain of SA's 3-0 loss to Ghana two weeks ago.
The win takes Bafana from the bottom of Group 2 to the top of the six-team standings, as in other group matches played on Saturday, Uganda and Ghana played to a 1-all draw, as did Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bafana now head the group with six points from three games, including their 2-1 home win over Cape Verde in June.
Bafana played with more commitment this time round, creating numerous scoring chances, especially in the first half. Pienaar, Bartlett, Benni McCarthy, Japhet Zwane and
Benedict Vilakazi featured prominently in the attacks.
The scoreline in Bafana's favour could have been bigger had Bartlett, Vilakazi, Pienaar and McCarthy converted their opportunities.
Bafana's defence on the day was also equal to the task. Marshalled by captain Aaron Mokoena, Nasief Morris, Bradley Carnell and Mbulelo Mabizela frustrated the efforts of Burkina Faso. Macbeth Sibaya provided the muscle in front of the defenders, and rendering the challenge from the opponents' midfielders ineffective.
Hans Vonk, though not called upon to do much, was in steady form, making good saves when necessary.
Speaking after the game, Mokoena said Bafana succeeded "because we played as a team. There was plenty of commitment and effort from everyone. Things look better for the rest of the qualifying programme. This win has helped restore our injured pride."
South Africa face the Democratic Republic of Congo next, on 4 September, followed by Uganda on 9
October.
Only the overall winner from the group will qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany; the top three teams will qualify for the 2006 African Cup of Nations.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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