Bafana Bafana registered a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe in their second Group A clash at the COSAFA Cup on Saturday afternoon.
Bafana rang the changes from the loss to Mozambique midweek as Kwanda Mngonyama, Siyanda Msani, Masindi Nemtajela and Boitumelo Radiopane were given starts.
Radiopane showed a lot of movement up top and almost got the opening goal on ten minutes from a pass into the wide channels, but goalkeeper Martin Mapisa rushd off his line to make the save.
Bafana’s comfortable early momentum continued and drew another strong save from Mapisa following a half-volley in the area by Kabelo Dlamini.
A substitution for the Warriors well on the half-hour mark saw the removal of Simbarashe Takaedza through injury and introduction of Kurainashe Musanhi.
The Warriors' spell took another twist when Nemtajela drew a foul in the box ten minutes to halftime and won a penalty – leaving Dlamini to do the honours and make it 1-0.
Bafana targeted a second goal a minute to the break with a teasing effort from a tight angle by Kamogelo Sebelebele, but Mapisa made a stop.
Nemtajela’s tough outing up top continued in the second half when he sent a close-range opportunity well wide with the goal at his mercy two minutes after the break.
Bafana doubled the lead in the last 12 minutes when Ime Okon leaped unchallenged in the six-yard area and headed in a curling free-kick.
Coach Vela Khumalo added fresh set of legs from the bench as the minutes to full-time loomed, with Athenkosi Mcaba and Victor Letsoalo summoned on.
Letsoalo almost made a dream entry through a snap shot from the area following a cutback by Gape Moralo, but a stern block by the Warriors denied the forward a sight on goal as the encounter ended 2-0.
Confirmed line-ups:
South Africa: Mbanjwa, Msani, Okon, McCarthy, Moralo, Dlamini, Mgonyama, Nemtajela, Sebelebele, Mkhize. Radiopane
Subs: Mpoto, Johnson, Dithejane, Mfolozi, Duba, Ramabu, Letsoalo, Shabalala, Gcaba, Letlapa, Barns, Mcaba