South Africa thrash Zimbabwe to pile pressure on Nigeria

South Africa thrash Zimbabwe to pile pressure on Nigeria

Tosin Abayomi 19:20 - 11.06.2024

In their World Cup qualifier, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa thrash Zimbabwe to pile pressure on Nigeria

Tuesday night's 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match between Bafana Bafana and a resolute Zimbabwean side ended in a 3-1 victory at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

In barely thirty seconds, the hosts broke the tie as Iqraam Rayners took advantage of a Zimbabwean defensive blunder to slide pass Godfrey Chitsumba and give Bafana the lead.

The jubilation in South Africa were short-lived, though, as Tawanda Chirewa of Zimbabwe equalized in the second minute by beating Ronwen Williams at the near post and breaking past Bafana's defense.

In the 37th minute, Rayners gave Bafana their second goal of the game, but the referee correctly raised the flag for an offside.

In the 45th minute, Aubrey Modiba failed to convert a set-piece, and the teams went into halftime even at 1-1.

In the 55th minute, Thapelo Morena gave the home team some breathing room when he misread the ball and tapped in from close range to make it 2-1.

In the 76th minute, Morena scored his second brace to make it 3-1.

Mokoena's brilliant pass split the defense, allowing Morena to round Chitsumba and slot home.

Hugo Broos' team won the game in the last ten minutes to tie the leaders Rwanda, who defeated Lesotho 1-0 in the other group game.

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