Bafana Bafana rout Seychelles to send a statement of intent
South Africa………… (3) 6
Seychelles………..…..0
13 October 2018 – Bafana Bafana sent a statement of intent when they walloped Seychelles in an absorbing AFCON qualifier at the pouring FNB Stadium.
Three goals in each half by home side saw six scorers on the day as Bafana Bafana climbed to the top of the Group E with 7 points from three matches.
Bafana have two wins and a draw in their 3 games and another win on Tuesday against the same opponents will set this group nicely for their 2019 qualification.
Goals by captain Thulani Hlatshwayo, Lebo Mothiba, Percy Tau, Dino Ndovu, Teboho Mokoena and an own goal by Seychelles’ Nigel Nigel saw Bafana Bafana record one of their biggest wins in international football.
With the pouring rain around the Soccer City precinct, the match started at a fast pace with South Africa creating two early good chances that fell to Tau and Mothiba who worked as twin centre strikers.
Tau came closest in the 14thminute when his well taken free kick cannoned off the cross bar.
Hlanti then whipped the cross that was tantalizingly missed by Mphahlele two minutes later as the home side continued to exert pressure.
However, with the pressure mounting with every attack something was going to give in, and that happened in the 23rdminutes when Kamohelo Mokotjo’s free kick from the left was headed into own net by Seychelles’ Nigel Nigel to open the floodgates.
Two minutes later, it was 2-0 when captain Thulani Hlatshwayo rose above everyone to plant a good header following a corner kick by Aubrey Modiba.
The home team was not finished yet, they returned on the 27thminute when Lebo Mothiba received a well weighed pass from Lebohang Maboe and he turned superbly to plant a good shot into the left hand corner.
Bafana Bafana could have ended the first half well in command but wave after wave of attack were repelled by the Seychelles defence in which the keeper Romeo Barra was the busiest man on the pitch.
In the second half, Bafana Bafana came with guns blazing but Tau missed a host of chances in one of the rare afternoons for him. He hit the upright and failed to beat the keeper in one on one situation as he continued to look for that elusive goal.
Mothiba could also have increased the tally but was foiled by the busy Romeo Barra in goals for the visitors.
Dino Ndlovu then replaced Aubrey Modiba in the 70thminute and his first touch was a powerful shot that went narrowly wide.
But Tau who had endured a frustrating afternoon was duly rewarding for his never say die attitude when he rounded off the Seychelles keeper before slotting into an empty net.
Teboho Mokoena then came in for Dean Furman who, as usual had covered every blade of grass at FNB Stadium.
Ndlovu then scored the fifth for the marauding home side when he slotted home a pass from Maboe who had a blinder of a game in the 81stminute.
Substitute Teboho Mokoena then scored the final sixth goal in the 90thminute when he headed with the final touch of the day.
SA Starting line-up: Itumeleng Khune, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Sifiso Hlanti, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Aubrey Modiba, Dean Furman, Lebohang Maboe, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Percy Tau, Lebo Mothiba
Subs: Ronwen Williams, Lebogang Phiri, Dino Ndlovu, Hlompho Kekana, Teboho Mokoena, Innocent Maela, Siyanda Xulu
SOURCED FROM THE SAFA WEBSITE.
