Ruthless South Africa puts Seychelles to the sword

A clinical performance saw South Africa easily brush aside Seychelles with a comfortable 6-0 scoreline in a Group E Day Three qualifier on Sunday in Johannesburg.

An own goal that opened the floodgates by Nigel Hoareau saw goals from Thulani Hlatshwayo, Lebogang Mothiba, Percy Tau, Dino Ndlovu and Teboho Mokoena give Bafana Bafana a confidence boosting three points which sees them top the group and in a very good position to book a place in next year’s African showpiece.

As expected, it was the hosts who applied pressure from the get-go and wasted no time in pinning their visitors against the wall in search of an early lead. It took just four minutes for Ramahlwe Mphahlele to send a delightful cross for the first attempt at goal as Aubrey Modiba’s header went just over the bar.

Minutes later, Sifiso Hlanti’s curling cross found the shortest man in the box in the form of Tau whose headed effort went inches wide of goal. The Bidvest Wits left back was again posing a threat in the Seychelles half as he sent another delightful cross which found an alert Mothiba, but his header was denied by Seychelles gloveman, Romeo Barra.

Mamelodi Sundowns new signee, Lebogang Maboe almost broke the deadlock in the 19

With the momentum comfortably with the South Africans, it was only a matter of time for the less experienced visitors to concede which eventually happened in the 22

Two minutes later, Modiba found the head of the oncoming Hlatshwayo yet again, and his header left the keeper with no chance as Bafana Bafana extended their lead.

With the visitors looking helpless from two quick goals, Maboe went on an amazing solo run past three defenders to lay the ball for Mothiba who did well to turn his marker and pull the trigger to find the top right corner and make it three goals for the homers in just a space of five minutes.

Even with three goals to their name, the South Africans continued to pile on the pressure and showed no mercy to the hapless Pirates as the Islanders are affectionately known.

Tau should have made it four for Bafana Bafana with just a minute to the break when he just had the keeper to beat from close range, but his effort was saved by the acrobatic Barra.

Coming into the second half, the hosts continued from where they left off, denying Seychelles the ball with their possessional play.

Fve minutes into the second stanza, Tau was again guilty of squandering a golden opportunity when he opted to go for power instead of chipping the oncoming Barra who was let down by his defense throughout the game.

The little magician did however make up for his mistake in the 72

Dino Ndlovu was brought on for the young Modiba and justified the coach’s decision with a well taken goal from a good build up as Bafana Bafana went 5-0 up in the 81

With just a minute to go on the clock, substitute, Teboho Mokoena made it half a dozen for the South Africans with a timely header from a quality cross from Hlanti to hammer the final nail in the Seychelles coffin.