Three goals in eight second half minutes saw South Africa turn the tables on 10-man Swaziland for a 5-1 win to claim a place in Saturday’s final of the COSAFA Castle Cup.
A lacklustre first half display saw South Africa trail 1-0 at the break at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek‚ but a red card for Swaziland centre-back Siyabonga Mdluli five minutes after the break proved to be the turning point.
New Orlando Pirates striker Thabiso Kutumela blasted home from the resultant free-kick from the edge of the box‚ before Lebogang Phiri’s deflected shot five minutes later put them in front.
It got worse for the Swazis two minutes later when an error from goalkeeper Sandile Ginindiza allowed Menzi Masuku to score‚ after which Judas Moseamedi breezed through the Swazi defence to add a fourth.
Masuku had the easiest of tap-ins after a fine run and pass from Kutumela to add the cherry on top for South Africa eight minutes before the end.
For the second game running Shakes Mashaba’s side had a poor first half as they made too many errors and failed to unduly trouble Ginindiza.
Captain Rivaldo Coetzee was punished for losing possession for the Swaziland goal as Felix Badenhorst collected the lose ball and fed former Santos and SuperSport United winger Tony Tsabedze to put Swaziland 1-0 ahead on 37 minutes.
It was a sloppy piece of play that would have sent a shiver down the spine of Under-23 coach Owen da Gama ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in August.
Mashaba made two changes at the break‚ bringing on goalkeeper Jody February as a replacement for Reyaad Pieterse to give him some game-time‚ and Masuku for Thembela Sikhakhane.
As happened in the quarterfinal win over Lesotho‚ Masuku’s pace immediately caused problems as South Africa upped the tempo.
Mdluli picked up a yellow card for a sloppy foul and then just two minutes later tripped Moseamedi on the edge of the box.
Referee Bernard Camille of the Seychelles produced a second yellow and after that Swaziland were always going to struggle against the energetic South Africans.
Their punishment came immediately as Kutumela powered the ball home with a low drive from the free-kick‚ and after that it was wave after wave of South African attacks.
Maphosa Modiba should have scored a sixth late on when he found himself one-on-one with Ginindiza‚ but chose to go for power over finesse and struck the outside of the post.
South Africa will play the winner of the second semifinal later on Wednesday night when guest nation DR Congo take on Botswana.
The final of the COSAFA Castle Cup will be played at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday at 18h30 South Africa time.
Bafana Bafana through to the Cosafa Cup final after giving Swaziland a hiding
A lacklustre first half display saw South Africa trail 1-0 at the break at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek‚ but a red card for Swaziland centre-back Siyabonga Mdluli five minutes after the break proved to be the turning point.
New Orlando Pirates striker Thabiso Kutumela blasted home from the resultant free-kick from the edge of the box‚ before Lebogang Phiri’s deflected shot five minutes later put them in front.
It got worse for the Swazis two minutes later when an error from goalkeeper Sandile Ginindiza allowed Menzi Masuku to score‚ after which Judas Moseamedi breezed through the Swazi defence to add a fourth.
Masuku had the easiest of tap-ins after a fine run and pass from Kutumela to add the cherry on top for South Africa eight minutes before the end.
For the second game running Shakes Mashaba’s side had a poor first half as they made too many errors and failed to unduly trouble Ginindiza.
Captain Rivaldo Coetzee was punished for losing possession for the Swaziland goal as Felix Badenhorst collected the lose ball and fed former Santos and SuperSport United winger Tony Tsabedze to put Swaziland 1-0 ahead on 37 minutes.
It was a sloppy piece of play that would have sent a shiver down the spine of Under-23 coach Owen da Gama ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in August.
Mashaba made two changes at the break‚ bringing on goalkeeper Jody February as a replacement for Reyaad Pieterse to give him some game-time‚ and Masuku for Thembela Sikhakhane.
As happened in the quarterfinal win over Lesotho‚ Masuku’s pace immediately caused problems as South Africa upped the tempo.
Mdluli picked up a yellow card for a sloppy foul and then just two minutes later tripped Moseamedi on the edge of the box.
Referee Bernard Camille of the Seychelles produced a second yellow and after that Swaziland were always going to struggle against the energetic South Africans.
Their punishment came immediately as Kutumela powered the ball home with a low drive from the free-kick‚ and after that it was wave after wave of South African attacks.
Maphosa Modiba should have scored a sixth late on when he found himself one-on-one with Ginindiza‚ but chose to go for power over finesse and struck the outside of the post.
South Africa will play the winner of the second semifinal later on Wednesday night when guest nation DR Congo take on Botswana.
The final of the COSAFA Castle Cup will be played at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday at 18h30 South Africa time.
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