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Five-star display by Bafana
26/03/2008 21:42 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Ring-wise Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira answered the gaggle of what he described as "ignorant critics" while orchestrating a stunning five-star display in the 3-0 victory over 26th world-ranked Paraguay at Atteridgeville's Super Stadium on Wednesday night.
A 10 000 crowd, immersed in what seemed a mixture of unrestrained delight and awe-struck disbelief after what was Bafana's most cultured performance in years, witnessed the creation of several notable landmarks and records.
It was the first time in 10 games that South Africa have beaten South American opposition, with the manner in which it was achieved quite as impressive as the scoreline.
And, in the process of scoring one of three superb Bafana goals, the adroit Benni McCarthy broke the South African scoring record he had previously held jointly with Shaun Bartlett by recording his 30th international goal.
Yet, if McCarthy's headed goal shortly after half-time to give Bafana a 2-0 lead constituted a memorable landmark, for sheer majestic class there was nothing on the night to match the quality of Surprise Moriri's volleyed opening goal in the 31st minute.
Acrobatically controlled
The Mamelodi Sundown ball wizard, who has battled to recover his confidence and artistry since undergoing leg surgery five months ago and whose selection for Bafana has since been questioned, acrobatically controlled a fierce cross with his head before planting the ball into the roof of the net with a goal in a thousand.
And Simphiwe Tshabalala's fiercely-struck third goal in the 61st minute completed a hat-trick of classy scoring efforts - so markedly different from the innocuous, powder-puff finishing of Bafana in recent times.
However, while heaping a mountain of deserved praise on Bafana, it must be recorded that the vaunted Paraguayans emerged a hopelessly over-rated combination on the night as they were bewitched, bothered and bewildered by the more resolute, skilful and motivated South Africans.
Currently topping the early stages of the South American League for 2010 World Cup qualifying, it seems safe to assume this is only a temporary ascendancy over teams like Brazil, Argentina and probably others as well.
And the pundit who proclaimed "I'll buy you a farm in Eloff St if they finish as top South American World Cup qualifiers," had a valid point.
For all this, the South Americans were cruelly handicapped by a 20th minute ankle injury to their star striker, Roque Santa Cruz, with the Blackburn Rovers striker forced to leave the field after a mere quarter of the proceedings.
Paraguay, however, looked an outplayed team even before this setback - the product of a cynical tackle by Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena, who is ironically a team-mate of Santa Cruz at Blackburn.
And if there is any serious criticism for Bafana on the night it is that many of their tackles were reckless and dangerous - and would have resulted in a spate of yellow and even red cards from a less tolerant referee than the Mauritian on view.
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