Bafana rediscover the route to goal

Bafana Bafana are right back in the Africa Cup of Nations, having convincingly disposed of Angola with a 2-0 victory at Moses Mabhida Stadium

The win was earned with the swagger befitting a host nation. The South Africans shook off the almost overbearing pressure that had grown after an appalling display in their opening 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, and notched just the third victory of Afcon 2013, a tournament punctuated by draws.

As was necessary, coach Gordon Igesund rang the changes after Bafana's flat first game. He brought in SA's third-highest scorer, Katlego Mphela, and the pacey Tokelo Rantie up front for Bernard Parker and Lehlohonolo Majoro, and the pair added a necessary sharp edge to Bafana's passing and running game.

Igesund surprised by starting with Dean Furman as a lone defensive midfielder. He also had Helsingborg midfielder May Mahlangu at playmaker, with Parker moved to the left and Thuso Phala remaining on the right. Tsepo Masilela came in for Thabo Matlaba at left-back.

The attacking line-up did the trick. The South Africans played with the confidence that a host nation must display.

This result could be the kick-start Igesund and his team need to inspire the support of the nation, and perhaps have a run into the knockout stages.

Is this finally a Bafana that, like the Afcon-winning class of 1996, can hold its head high alongside its cricket and rugby counterparts, and perhaps even challenge for a trophy? Only the coming fortnight will tell.

Yesterday, though, this was the national team the supporters were hoping for.

SA produced a pulsating display in the first half. They raided the Angolan back four with positive, running football. They expressed themselves and created good scoring opportunities.

And importantly, they snuffed out the dangerous Angolans when the opposition came within a sniff of the SA area, bundling up dangerous striker Manucho. Even at 1-0 up, conceding a goal would have put the tournament hosts straight back under pressure.

From the ninth minute, when Bongani Khumalo only got a faint touch with his header to Mahlangu's cross from the left, Bafana were on the front foot.

They spent the first 20 minutes camped round the Angolan box, including one fast-paced move where neat interplay between the two, and a good piece of skill in the area from Mphela, teed up Rantie on the left, but he skied his shot into Durban's muggy atmosphere.

In the 21st minute SA took the lead when the Angola defence could not clear a Phala free kick from the right and the loose ball fell to Siyabonga Sangweni, ghosting in at the far post and sweeping a finish past goalkeeper Joao Lama.

Near the end of the half Rantie looped a header onto the top netting, with Lama stranded, having dived to intercept a cross.

Igesund aimed to keep the tempo high by introducing Reneilwe Letsholonyane for Mahlangu at the break.

In the 53rd minute Campos Djalma made ground down the right and squared to Afons Guilherme, whose shot was solidly saved by Itumeleng Khune.

But this was a chance against the run of play. In the 62nd minute Majoro, on for Rantie four minutes earlier, was found on the left on the counter-attack. He beat two defenders and then knocked the ball between Lama's legs to make it 2-0 to Bafana.