Sinoxolo Kwayiba and Ashley Cupido’s second half goals saw Bafana Bafana close the June international window with a victory over Mozambique at a cold Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday night.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos kept his word and made wholesome changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Tanzania last Friday with Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Samukelo Kabini, Yanela Mbuthuma making their senior national team debuts.
Bafana were in control of the game from the first whistle, however could not get passed the last line of the Mozambican defense, their goalkeeper Ivane Urrabal as he stood his ground and denied the hosts several times in the half.
Mohau Nkota who made his starting XI debut was denied first in the second minute from a Nyiko Mobbie pass and later missed the target by a few inches as South Africa searched for an opener.
Relebohile Mofokeng who was on song took an aim at the keeper in the fifth minute and had Urrabal block the chance and again in the 17th minute just one-on-one with the 28-year-old shot stopper who pulled another good save.
The Orlando Pirates winger had another golden opportunity to break the deadlock five minutes to half-time and it was saved. There were opportunities for Kwayiba in the stanza but he too was also denied by the keeper.
Bafana did not waste any time when they returned from the break winning a corner. Nkota stepped up and sent it into the box and it found Kwayiba who jumped highest to give the hosts the lead.
Nkota could have made it 2-0 10 minutes into the half but his cracking shot went wide. Ndamulelo Maphangule also a had a clear shot to double Bafana’s lead just after the hour mark but he missed the target, shooting over the bar.
Broos rung in changes, bringing on Oswin Appollis, Ashley Cupido and Renaldo Leaner for Mofokeng, Mbuthuma and Sipho Chaine. The changes had an immediate effect, as Cupido slotted home Bafana’s second goal after capitalising on a poor clearance by the Mozambican defenders in the 69th minute.
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