Banyana Banyana are through to the third round of the CAF 2028 LA Olympic Games qualifiers with a 7-0 aggregate score-line against Madagascar over two legs.
South African won the first leg at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium 4-0 and 3-0 in the second leg of the tie at the same venue on Tuesday thanks to Gabriela Salgado-Moodaly goal and Ronnel Donnelly brace.
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Coach Desiree Ellis made several changes for the Tuesday encounter including upfront where Thembi Kgatlana replaced Ronnel Donnelly and in goals with Kaylin Swart starting ahead of Andile Dlamini.
The home side dominated proceedings just like in the first leg especially in the first half of the second game but were let down by their final touch and also a resilient Madagascar defense. Antonia Maponya could have opened the scoring in the second minute but her header was an easy save by the Malagasy goalkeeper.
The combinations of Kgatlana and Hilda Magaia and that between Amogelang Motau and Salgado- Moodaly proved to be a thorn for the opposition but could not produce goals in the first half.
In the seventh minute both Kgatlana and Magaia were too late on a ball crossed by Salgado-Moodaly in the box. Kgatlana was denied by the goalkeeper in the 25th minute inside the box. The 32nd minute she found the back of the net but the goal was flagged for a foul that happened prior just outside the box.
Banyana were awarded a free-kick from that situation. Motau stepped up but she hit the crossbar. There were chances for Kgatlana and Salgado-Moodaly late in the half to score but the former shot wide while the latter was denied by the goalie leaving the game goalless at the break.
Salgado-Moodaly finally got a break in the first minute of the second half as she broke the deadlock from a Magaia assist. Banyana could have doubled their lead in the 58th minute from a Noxolo Cesane corner if Maponya had not headed off target.
Motau also came close to scoring three minutes after the hour mark from a flashy Bongeka Gamede pass however Motau shot slightly wide. Minutes later Banyana’s persistence paid off as Kgatlana set-up substitute Ronnel Donnelly who headed home the cushion goal.
Ten minutes later the Mamelodi Sundowns forward completed her brace with the bread winner providing the assist, the brace takes her goal tally to six overall in national colours and fifth in two successive games.