Hometown hero Ayanda Patosi produced some much needed respite for under-fire Bafana Bafana and beleaguered coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba with a second half winner as South Africa beat a second-string Angola 2-1 in a friendly international yesterday.
A deft chip over the onrushing goalkeeper was deflected into the net but gratefully claimed by the 22-year-old from Khayelitsha to crown a lively performance that underlined the folly of leaving him out for the African Nations Cup finals earlier this year.
Thulani Serero’s enthusiastic contributions were also a stark reminder of what might have been in Equatorial Guinea had he been selected and emphasised his role as a game winner for the country.
Only a second victory in the last 10 South African internationals will give Mashaba some breathing space, especially after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with lowly Gambia in Durban, although he pulled out all his top guns to ensure success.
The Bafana boss opted to go with a near full-strength side while Angola excused all their European-based players after their 4-0 win over the Central African Republic in the Nations Cup qualifiers at the weekend and used only home-based players, as they prepare for a trip to Swaziland this Saturday for the start of the Chan-2016 qualifiers.
South Africa also play a Chan-2016 qualifier against Mauritius at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday but the under-fire Bafana coach was not leaving his fortunes to a locals-only XI and started with Belgian-based Anele Ngcongca and Patosi as well as May Mahlangu and Serero.
Angola broke quickly for the opening goal in the 25th minute, taking advantage of a turnover to get the ball forward to the big centre-forward Alexander Cristovao, a former refugee, who banged the ball home off the underside of the crossbar.
It meant the first action of the game for home goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, whose 68th appearance took him past Andre Arendse’s record as the country’s most capped goalkeeper, was to pick the ball out of the net.
Cristovao left the civil war in Angola as a child and grew up in the Netherlands, playing two seasons in the Dutch top-flight and winning a call-up to the Angolan squad.
He is now back home after being signed by champions Recreativo Libolo last year.
South Africa equalised on the stroke of halftime with a sliding Thamsanqa Gabuza forcing home a rebound after Patosi’s long-range shot proved too hot for Angola’s ‘keeper Landu to handle.
Up to that point the clumsy Gabuza was beginning to confirm general opinion about his lack of suitability for the international game with several missed chances.
The 68th minute winner was set up by Gabuza’s second half replacement, Bonginkosi Ntuli, who took advance of a defensive slip to cut in front on the right and, with the assistance of Serero, set up Patosi for a crafty finish, much to the relief of the crowd of 8112 hardy souls battered by a cold wind and intermittent rain.
Bafana captain Ngcongca made a brilliant tackle to deny Angola an 80th-minute equaliser but injured in the process, allowing Mashaba to shore up his team with a cameo appearance from Belgium-based midfielder Andile Jali.
Heavy armoury does trick for Bafana
A deft chip over the onrushing goalkeeper was deflected into the net but gratefully claimed by the 22-year-old from Khayelitsha to crown a lively performance that underlined the folly of leaving him out for the African Nations Cup finals earlier this year.
Thulani Serero’s enthusiastic contributions were also a stark reminder of what might have been in Equatorial Guinea had he been selected and emphasised his role as a game winner for the country.
Only a second victory in the last 10 South African internationals will give Mashaba some breathing space, especially after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with lowly Gambia in Durban, although he pulled out all his top guns to ensure success.
The Bafana boss opted to go with a near full-strength side while Angola excused all their European-based players after their 4-0 win over the Central African Republic in the Nations Cup qualifiers at the weekend and used only home-based players, as they prepare for a trip to Swaziland this Saturday for the start of the Chan-2016 qualifiers.
South Africa also play a Chan-2016 qualifier against Mauritius at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday but the under-fire Bafana coach was not leaving his fortunes to a locals-only XI and started with Belgian-based Anele Ngcongca and Patosi as well as May Mahlangu and Serero.
Angola broke quickly for the opening goal in the 25th minute, taking advantage of a turnover to get the ball forward to the big centre-forward Alexander Cristovao, a former refugee, who banged the ball home off the underside of the crossbar.
It meant the first action of the game for home goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, whose 68th appearance took him past Andre Arendse’s record as the country’s most capped goalkeeper, was to pick the ball out of the net.
Cristovao left the civil war in Angola as a child and grew up in the Netherlands, playing two seasons in the Dutch top-flight and winning a call-up to the Angolan squad.
He is now back home after being signed by champions Recreativo Libolo last year.
South Africa equalised on the stroke of halftime with a sliding Thamsanqa Gabuza forcing home a rebound after Patosi’s long-range shot proved too hot for Angola’s ‘keeper Landu to handle.
Up to that point the clumsy Gabuza was beginning to confirm general opinion about his lack of suitability for the international game with several missed chances.
The 68th minute winner was set up by Gabuza’s second half replacement, Bonginkosi Ntuli, who took advance of a defensive slip to cut in front on the right and, with the assistance of Serero, set up Patosi for a crafty finish, much to the relief of the crowd of 8112 hardy souls battered by a cold wind and intermittent rain.
Bafana captain Ngcongca made a brilliant tackle to deny Angola an 80th-minute equaliser but injured in the process, allowing Mashaba to shore up his team with a cameo appearance from Belgium-based midfielder Andile Jali.
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