Bafana Bafana got their 2010 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign back on track with a stunning 4-1 win over Equatorial Guinea in their second Group Four match at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Saturday.
Bafana led 2-0 at halftime.
Equatorial Guinea seemed to have no game plan and keeper Emmanuel Danilo — who failed to hold crosses — looked out of his depth.
Bafana keeper Itumeleng Khune had only one halfhearted save to deal with in the first 45 minutes and was idle after the break.
Danilo made a meal of Steven Pienaar’s fourth-minute shot when he flapped at the ball and managed to clear the danger.
Orlando Pirates playmaker Teko Modise, who was named man of the match, had a storming first half. In the sixth minute he showed why he was so sorely missed when a toe injury forced him to stay home last Sunday. He dribbled the ball from his own half and just failed to find his midfield linkman Pienaar on the final pass.
Bafana sensed blood and kept their opponents under pressure. It came as no surprise when the home side took the lead six minutes later.
Modise then set up the first goal when he slipped the ball to defensive midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi, who rammed home a stunning shot.
Bafana suffered a setback in the 22nd minute when central defender Bevan Fransman left the field due to concussion and was replaced by SuperSport United Bongani Khumalo.
Both Modise and Pienaar peppered Equatorial Guinea and the pressure paid off when Surprise Moriri headed home a Modise cross to make it 2-0.
Israel based striker Terror Fanteni scored a brilliant goal in the 63rd minute from a Tsepo Masilela cross. It was Fanteni’s first goal in 14 appearances for his country. But he has been used mainly as a substitute and showed on Saturday that he has the hunger and determination to take over the centre forward’s role from Benni McCarthy.
Dikgacoi capped his best performance for Bafana when he headed home his second goal to make it 4-1 deep into injury time. – Sapa