A rampant Banyana Banyana side hammered Madagascar 4-0 in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifiers first leg clash at Free State Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Dr Desiree Ellis named a strong side with the likes of Ronnel Donnelly, Andile Dlamini, Isabella Ludwig and Gabriela Salgado all starting with Linda Motlhalo captaining the side for the clash played behind closed doors at the request of SAFA from Madagascar as the hosts.
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The ‘home side’ kept Banyana at bay in the first 20 minutes while they tried catching them on the counter.
It was however Banyana who broke the deadlock in the 25th minute through lanky forward Ronnel Donnelly who reacted first at the far post from Karabo Dhlamini to make it 1-0.
The Mamelodi Sundowns striker netted her brace of the afternoon and Banyana’s second with a fine low strike from the edge of the box in the 37th minute.
Donnelly was not done for the afternoon as she grabbed her hat-trick in the 61st minute to give Banyana a healthy 3-0 advantage.
In the 78th minute, it was 4-0 after a Madagascar defender turned the ball into her own net after Hildah Magaia had rounded the goalkeeper.
Banyana Starting XI: Dlamini, Dhlamini, Motlhalo, Ludwig, Salgado, Cesane, Mhlongo, Pila, Magama, Magaia, Donnelly.
The second leg will take place on Tuesday, 13 October, also at the Free State Stadium.