OWN CORRESPONDENT, Witbank | Sunday 7.00pm.
MIDFIELDER Delron Buckley ended his international goal drought by scoring twice as South Africa cruised to a 2-0 win over Swaziland here on Sunday in a Castle Cup quarter-final.
German-based Buckley struck after 11 and 17 minutes of the opening half in a Southern Africa championship match that failed to match expectations before a capacity 15000 crowd at Johann van Riebeeck Stadium.
Buckley put an understrength Bafana Bafana ahead by getting in front of Bongani Masangane at the far post and firing a Siyabonga Nomvete cross between the legs of goalkeeper Sipho Dube.
Another cross from the right led to the second goal with captain Thabo Mngomeni heading the ball into the path of Buckley, who pushed it past the onrushing Dube.
After making a superb start in his 13th national-team appearance, Buckley limped off injured midway through the first-half to be replaced by Dillon Sheppard on the left wing.
Hopes of a South African goal rush never materialised with the home team repeatedly caught offside while Swaziland lacked the imagination and pace to threaten goalkeeper John Tlale.
Injuries and fouls constantly disrupted play and the second half offered virtually no entertainment for a vocal crowd in the mining town 300km east of Johannesburg.
The only players smiling at the end were Bafana trio of defender Andile Sixaba, who was voted man of the match, midfielder Helman Mkhalele, who won a record-equalling 61st cap, and debutant striker Phumlani Mkhize.
South African coach Trott Moloto, who is fighting to save his job after three consecutive defeats at the four nation tournament in the United States this month, praised his makeshift team.
“The boys did well considering there were so many late changes and we had only two training sessions,” said the man many believe will not be in charge when South Africa open their World Cup group campaign on July 9 in Zimbabwe. — AFP