GAMBIA 0
SOUTH AFRICA (2) 4
How sad that this fantastic result is hollow, qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon next year already out of reach for Bafana Bafana - even via one of those best second-placed spots.
But this was a convincing victory alright, an outcome that will have Shakes Mashaba and his men looking forward to the 2018 World Cup qualifiers with some confidence.
Why they were not this clinical throughout the campaign will remain a mystery, Bafana registering only their first win of the qualifiers in the penultimate round.
And they did so in style, the much-maligned Thamsanqa Gabuza netting a first half brace of some quality and Keegan Dolly adding to it his own double after the break - both crackers from range.
Their good finishing was a welcome sight compared to that first round tie in Durban where they wasted a plethora of chances that should have seen them overcome the group’s supposed weakest team instead of playing a goalless draw.
It took them half an hour to get on the mark last night, and the goal was a brilliant team effort.
Tebogo Langerman turned a defensive situation into attack, the Mamelodi Sundowns man making a run from deep at left back into the home side’s half. He released his clubmate Keegan Dolly, who sent in a low cross that Gabuza controlled first before slotting home.
The big Orlando Pirates defender was swift to make it 2-0, and again it was Dolly who created the opportunity. Gabuza stole the ball from the Gambia in midfield and forged forward before laying the ball off to Dolly and running into the box. The Sundowns winger delayed his pass and once Gabuza was in a good spot he delivered a fantastic pass that the striker had to smash in at the near post.
Having played provider, Dolly - earning only his second cap for the senior national team - got one of his own ten minutes after the break. A cross from the right found Dolly unmarked in the penalty arc and his left foot connected sweetly and directed the ball straight into the net, leaving the Gambian keeper clutching thin air. The young player on whom a lot of South Africa’s hopes of a good Olympic tournament rest, added a second almost from the same spot late in the game, as he controlled a pass and then unleashed a thunderbolt that nestled sweetly in the net.
While 2-0 at the break was a convincing score, it could have easily been more - much more, for Bafana were dominant and created numerous scoring chances.
After the initial ten minutes were evenly contested, Bafana took the ascendancy and threatened on 11 minutes when Mandla Masango ran forward and cut through only to be blocked as he tried to pull the trigger.
But Gambia also threatened thereafter when a free kick from the left was sent into the box, but Erick Mathoho was on hand to clear the ball that was headed back in.
Dolly then had a great chance to open the scoring on 17 minutes when he met a long punt from Mathoho to beat the offside trap. But the Sundowns star hit the ball first time and sent it far away from the goal.
Almost immediately Gabuza had a clear chance, but shot directly at the goalkeeper when playing a one-two with Andile Jali, who had set him up in the first place, would have borne better fruit.
He made amends for this later on, not only once, but twice, and then Dolly complemented him to give Bafana that kind of victory that most had expected them to enjoy in this group when the draw was initially made.
They only came to life last night, a little too late to book that ticket to Gabon 2017, but perhaps in time to boost their confidence ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, the draw for which will be made this month. - Sunday Tribune