By: Nhlanhla Ndlovu

Tlou Segolela scored a goal on each half to give Bafana Bafana a valuable 2-0 victory against Lesotho in an international friendly match at the National Stadium, in Maseru, Lesotho on Sunday.

Both countries created crucial chances throughout the match. But, only Segolela managed to open the scoring in the dying minutes of the first half. He doubled the scoring in the hour mark to give coach Gordon Igesund’s boys a convincing win.

“The two goals were a great confidence booster for me, but credit must go to the whole team as we worked very hard to achieve this result,” Segolela told Safa.net.

“We did very well in windy conditions and this should set us up for a great travel to Cameroon, hopefully we will repeat the same performance and even improve it slightly,” he added.

Although Bafana were struggling at the back with most of their stars injured, but Anele Ngcongca, Eric Mathoho, Thabo Nthethe and Ricardo Nunes were solid as a rock at the back to protect Wayne Sandilands’ goals.

The match began with a sprint run on the left by Nunes who played an accurate cross to Bernard Parker but he failed to connect his head to the ball.

Lesotho soon found their rhythm and Thulo Ranchobe was close to scoring when his volley forced a strong stop from Bafana goalkeeper Sandilands.

Sandilands was forced to make another save a minute later, when Litsepe Marabe found space in the 18-area, allowing a free header. But Sandilands got his hands to the ball to deny Lesotho’s promising attack.

In the half hour mark, visitors were superior in terms of ball possession. They couldn’t convert the chances they created. On the 32nd, Parker came with an excellent free kick but hit the cross bar. Katlego Mashego was at the right place at the right time to direct the rebound goal wards, but Lesotho goalkeeper Kholuoe Phasumane made a simple stop to deny Bafana the opener.

In the dying minutes of the first half, Simphiwe Tshabalala played a dangerous ball across the goal mouth to reach Segolela who was in the far post to score the opener just before the half time whistle.

Despite the wind against the visitors in the second half but they continued to attack the home side.

In the hour mark, Daine Klate who came on in the second half, played a high cross that was poked by Phasumane to reach Segolela inside the box and turned away from the defender to find the back of the net to make the score 2-0.

Bafana will play two 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Central African Republic on the 8th of June and Ethiopia on the 15th of June away from home.

Coach Igesund was happy with his boys’ defence in the game against Lesotho although his side experienced injury problems.

“I gave a couple of players a run and I was very pleased with the outcome. We had to get to the bottom of our defensive troubles before we travel to CAR and Ethiopia,” he told Safa.net.

It was important to get it right here today. What I saw gave me a clear indication of what we need to do in our next match which is very crucial,” Igesund added.

From right: Tlou Segolela, Dean Furman and Oupa Manyisa celebrating one of the goals scored by Segolela against Lesotho. Picture by supersport.com