SA GET BIG WIN IN POLOKWANE
South African skipper Aaron Mokoena celebrated winning his 100th cap for his country by leading the side to their record victory in a 5-0 thumping of Central American visitors Guatemala in Polokwane on Monday night.
The World Cup warm-up match will be the perfect confidence booster for Carlos Alberto Parreira's side, as they bettered their previous highest victories – 4-0 wins over Chad in 2007 and Thailand just last month.
Goals from Katlego Mphela (two penalties), Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Surprise Moriri and Bernard Parker lifted the side ahead of their World Cup opener against Mexico at Soccer City on June 11.
Bafana profited from a soft penalty award early on by referee Ibrahim Chaibou from Niger, who adjudged Siphiwe Tshabalala's long-range effort to have struck Guatemalan defender Gustavo Cabrera on the arm. Mphela did not waste the gift and notched his 13th goal in Bafana colours.
Mphela and Gonzalo Romero traded ambitious long-range free-kicks, before Letsholonyane scored his maiden international goal.
Brilliant work from Lucas Thwala down the left saw him reach the byline and his chip into the box fell perfectly for the Kaizer Chiefs man, who volleyed into an empty net with visiting goalkeeper David Guerra out of position.
Bafana extended their lead three minutes into the second half when substitute Moriri picked up the lose ball just outside the six-yard box from Mphela's driving run and cross and tapped home with the Guatemalan defence at sixes and sevens.
Moeneeb Josephs saved a penalty from Guillermo Ramirez soon afterwards, but shortly afterwards the unfortunate Cabrera hand-balled in the box again from Kagisho Dikgacoi's shot. Mphela coolly slotted home from the spot and Bafana matched their best-ever result in international football.
Steven Pienaar's brilliant free-kick from 35-yards with 20 minutes left slammed against the post with Guatemalan substitute goalkeeper David Guerra beaten, denying him a spectacular goal.
But Parker continued the scoring as he picked up the ball on the sideline, beat two defenders and hit a shot from 25-yards across the goalkeeper and into the top corner.
--