Posted in News on Mar 31, 2009.
played on Tuesday night.
The win was Portugal's first in five matches. But they outclassed
Bafana and showed how far behind Bafana are from the big guns of world
soccer. Bafana's head coach Joel Santana has a massive task ahead if is
still dreaming about this squad competing against the world's best in
the Confederations Cup in June and at next year's World Cup finals.
One could see the difference in class. Portugal are ranked 10th by
Fifa while Bafana are 72nd and that gap showed.
If Bafana are to make any impression in either Fifa tournaments then
Santana must wake up to the fact that goals win matches and his
defensive tactics against top opposition do not work.
Both goals one in
each half came from a corner.
Portugal showed they were head and shoulders above a lack lustre
Norway who Bafana defeated 2-1 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at the
Royal Bafokeng Stadium at the weekend.
Bafana were on the back foot for most of the opening 45 minutes,
which Portugal dominated. Santana showed his lack of imagination and
ambition by persisted using Bernard Parker as his lone striker and
employing two defensive midfielders in Lance Davids and Macbeth Sibaya.
Portugal's head coach Carlos Queiroz, the former Bafana coach, made
six changes to the side that drew 0-0 at home to Sweden in a World Cup
qualifier in Porto at the weekend leaving his Manchester United and
World Player of the Year Ronaldo on the bench but still Portugal had
too much ammunition for Bafana.
If the ultra conservative Santana was hoping to come home with a 0-0
draw he was shocked into reality in the fourth minute when defender
Bruno Alves headed into an empty net.
Parker managed to get Bafana's only shot on target during the entire
first half. He forced goalkeeper Eduardo to make a good save from his
well aimed striker in the seventh minute.
Parker cried out for support but received little and battled gamely
on his own against an experienced and well marshalled Portugal defence
that gave little away.
Portuguese debutant Edinho headed a Deco free kick over the crossbar
in the 19th minute as Portugal threatened to swamp the out classed
South Africans.
Khune stopped a shot from Manchester United's Nani in the 21st
minute and made another save off Nani after 34 minutes.
In between Portugal's Atletico Madrid midfielder Maniche shot wide
when he unleashed a powerful shot in the 28th minute.
Parker was set up by Teko Modise in the 34th minute but the Red Star
based striker slipped and his slot went wide.
But after a bright start in the second half, Khune and his defence
were suckered again from a Deco corner in the 56th minute which
newcomer Edinho scrambled home to make it 2-0 and then on came Ronaldo
and classy Simao and it was game over.
But Ronaldo and company were happy to go through the motions and
avoid unnecessary injuries.
Bafana's only chance in the second half fell to substitute Mabhuti
Khenyeza who again fluffed a chance in a goal mouth melee.
The Ajax Cape Town striker struggled against Norway and surely now
Santana has seen enough and look for a partner for Parker who can score
goals on the international stage.
Bafana starting line-up: Khune, Gaxa, Thwala, Morris, Mokoena, Sibaya, Davids, Pienaar (Modubi '64), Modise (Moriri '75), Tshabalala (Khenyeza '63), Parker (Mashego '74).
