Brazil taught Bafana Bafana a footballing lesson with the heaviest defeat ever – 5-0 – in last night’s international friendly at FNB Stadium.
[full]The friendly brought Brazil’s world tour to a conclusion, ahead of hosting the World Cup in June.
Coach Gordon Igesund gave a start to young Supersport United goalkeeper Ronwen Williams in the absence of injured captain Itumeleng Khune.
Thulani Serero made his return to international football on the left.
Brazil’s Luiz Felipe Scolari opted for Fluminense forward Fred as his central striker.
Neymar was the star of the show, regularly scything through the Bafana back four as if they were not there and scoring a hat-trick.
Igesund started his Bafana coaching career with an “impressive” 1-0 defeat to Brazil in Sao Paulo in September 2012.
As speculation has posited, this was his last game. It was more of a samba festival to the Selecao – Brazil at times toyed with Bafana.
Bafana’s flakiness gave the 52000-strong crowd nervous moments in the first half, resulting in Brazil scoring two soft goals.
In the 10th minute Hulk’s punt up-field from halfway line found Oscar to run through unchallenged and chip Williams for 1-0.
In the 41st minute Neymar received the ball from Paulinho, took it wide off Siyanda Xulu on the left and finished from the edge of the area, through Williams’s legs.
And it took 25 seconds into the restart for Neymar to make it 3-0. Taking a chip over the defence from Fred, the Barcelona star produced an even more sublime chip of Williams.
Igesund had to settle for untested forwards Dino Ndlovu and Ayanda Patosi, and the skilful but still inexperienced Bongani Zungu.
Patosi almost scored with his first touch, with Brazil’s goalie Julio Cesar producing a reflex save.
Fernandinho’s 30m drive in the 79th had Williams indecisively rooted to the spot like a rabbit caught in headlights.
In injury time Jo headed down for Neymar to tap in his third.[/full]