Bafana Bafana solidified their stay at the top in their World Cup qualifying group with a 3-1 victory over Ethiopia on Saturday afternoon.
Vincent Pule got injured during the warm-up and was replaced by Thabiso Kutumela. Meanwhile, while Terrence Mashego and Tshegofatso Mabasa were also handed a place in the starting XI.
With just 20 minutes gone, Nyiko Mobbie delivered a wonderful free-kick into the box that found Mothobi Mvala, who sent his header wide of the left post.
Moments later, Ethiopian midfielder Surafel Dagnachew found some space at the edge of the box and his well-struck effort was tipped over the bar by Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The hosts enjoyed more of the possession but Bafana were getting the best goal scoring chances. In the 32nd minute, Thabiso Kutumela ran at the Walia Ibex defence opting to go alone despite having an option close by but his low shot went wide of the left post.
Bafana were forced into a change as Mabasa came off for Victor Letsoalo, although it was unclear if it was a tactical move or forced.
Soon after, Ethiopia had a great chance to go in front. Siyanda Xulu gave the ball away in his own box and the ball was played through to Abubeker Nasser but Williams made a brilliant one-handed reflex save from close range, before pulling off another vital save moments later.
Bafana eventually took the lead on the dot of half-time when Ethiopian keeper Fasil Gebremichael made an absolute howler after he somehow let Teboho Mokoena’s tame free-kick slip through his fingers.
Shortly after the hour mark, Ethiopia equalized from a freekick after Kutumela committed a foul on the edge of the box. Former Bidvest Wits striker Getaneh Kebede stepped up and curled the ball over the wall into the top right corner.
However, Bafana soon restored their lead as Mobbie’s long throw from the right-hand side was flicked on at the near post to the centre of the box where Mvala was standing to apply a finish from close-range.
Bafana almost got the third with ten minutes to go when Mobbie delivered a cross from the right-hand side for Evidence Makgopa, whose header struck the crossbar.
The result was put beyond any doubt in the 90th minute when Makgopa played a headed one-two with Victor Letsoalo before the Baroka FC striker lobbed the onrushing keeper brilliantly to make the points safe for the visitors and take his tally to four goals in five appearances for the national side.