Bafana romped to a record 5-0 victory at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Monday evening.

It was South Africa’s second consecutive win and their third win in their last four outings Furthermore, they are now unbeaten in eleven games.

Katelgo Mphela got the scoreboard ticking in the 12th minute when he converted a penalty which was awarded in dubious circumstances; Reneilwe Letsholonyane then doubled the hosts lead with a second goal in the 26th.

Mphela set up substitute Surprise Moriri for the third just after the restart, and got his second also from the penalty spot in the 56th minute.

Bafana Bafana’s final goal of the night was their best; it came from the boot of Bernard Parker who sent a scorching left footed shot screeching past Guatemala substitute goalkeeper Barrios eight minutes from time.

After being frustrated by the Guatemalans early on Tshabalala managed to open up the opposition defence by weaving his way past them before unleashing a ferocious shot from around 20 yards from goal.

The ball looked to hit Guatemala defender Gustavo Cabrera on the chest and in addition the offence seemed to have taken place outside of the penalty area, nonetheless referee Ibrahim Chaibou gave the home side a penalty that really should not have been awarded.

Mphela hit the ball to the right of Guerra to convert the spot kick and handed South Africa the lead on 12 minutes.

Whereas questions could have been asked about Bafana’s first goal their second was a well worked team goal.

Lucas Thwala was the catalyst behind the goal as he won the ball on the left wing and played two quick short passes with Tshabalala and Pienaar.

The latter’s pass set him free down the left channel of the Guatemala penalty area where he proceeded to chip the ball over Guerra and Gallardo where it fell to Letsholonyane who met the ball perfectly on the volley to double South Africa’s lead in the 26th minute.

It took South Africa just three minutes after the restart to the second halt to find a third. Again Mphela latched onto a long ball down the left wing and teed up his Sundowns team mate Surprise Moriri who slotted the ball home from close range.

Soon after Guatemala were themselves awarded a penalty in questionable circumstances. Rodrigues shot from inside the 18 yard area and the ball appeared to hit Moon on the chest, but still the match official pointed to the spot. In another strange twist Thwala was given a yellow card, Josephs though held his nerve and saved Ramirez’s penalty.

In the 56th minute Bafana were handed another spot kick, again Cabrera was the unfortunate party as he seemed to handle Dickgacoi’s attempt at goal inside the 18 yard area. Mphela was on hand to send home the spot kick and completed his brace.

Steven Pienaar came agonizingly close to scoring a fifth goal for South Africa when he deftly curled a free kick over the Guatemala wall and onto the cross bar in the 72nd minute.

Number five did, however, come for Bafana in spectacular fashion. Bernard Parker curled the ball viciously round Barrios from the left edge of the 18 yard area and with it handed Bafana Bafana a morale boosting 5-0 victory, their highest ever in international football.

South Africa (2) 5 (Mphela 12’ pen & 56 pen, Letsholonyane 26’, Moriri 48’, Parker 82’


Guatemala (0)

Teams:

South Africa: 22-Moeneeb Josephs; 26-Anele Ngcongca (Moon 46’), 28-Lucas Thwala, 20-Bongani Khumalo (Booth 64’), 100-Aaron Mokoena; 12-Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Sibaya 46’), 13-Kagisho Dikgacoi, 10-Steven Pienaar, 11-Teko Modise (Moriri 46’), 8-Siphiwe Tshabalala (Parker 70’); 9-Katlego Mphela (Nomvete 64’).

Guatemala: 1-David Guerra (Barrios 46’), 2-Jaime Vides, 4-Henry Medina, 5-Carlos Gallardo, 6-Gustavo Cabrera, 7-Carlos Castillo, 8-Gonzalo Romero (Montepeque 46’), 9-Aloner Trigueros, 10-Mario Rodrigues, 11-Guillermo Ramirez (Caal 61’), 18-Sergio Guevara

Referee: Ibrahim Chaibou (Niger)