Zwane leads SA to emphatic win

S. Africa ............... 4

S. Leone ............... 0

OHANNESBURG - South Africa produced their best performance under coach Hugo Broos as they handed Sierra Leone a 4-0 thrashing in an international friendly at the FNB Stadium yesterday.

After suffering defeats at the hands of France (0-5) and Morocco (1-2) in their last ‘senior’ outings back in March, Bafana Bafana showed signs of major progress under their Belgian mentor as they put in a polished showing at Soccer City – inspired by the returning Themba Zwane, who scored a brace of fine goals. On 17 minutes Aubrey Modiba went direct for goal from a free kick, but saw his effort from a tight angle beaten away at the near post by goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara.

Bafana Bafana dialled up the attacking pressure around the half hour mark and were rewarded in the 33rd minute when Themba Zwane put them into a 1-0 lead. Bafana scored to make it 2-0 in the 49th minute. Zwane’s perfectly weighted pass allowed Lepasa to beat Kamara to the ball, though he was forced wide to the left by-line.

Zwane continued to be the game’s outstanding player and scored his second goal on 64 minutes to make it 3-0. The number 11 latched onto a cross from Sekgota, touched the ball past Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker and then stabbed a low shot beyond Kamara.

The fourth goal arrived on 72 minutes after a lengthy spell of passing, which ended with Khanyisa Mayo and Lepasa teeing up Pule Mmodi – he saw his shot blocked by Kamara, but the rebound was fired home by Modiba for 4-0. South Africa will be back in action on Tuesday, as they face Botswana at FNB Stadium in another international friendly.

J