SOUTH Africa Under-23 side cruised to a 3-1 victory over Angola in Luanda, putting themselves in a good position to progress to the next round of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Despite not having proper preparations for this encounter, David Notoane’s charges put up a brilliant performance away from home. They took their chances in front of goal and conceded in the final five minutes of the game, ahead of the return leg at Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday.
Mamelodi Sundowns forward Phakamani Mahlambi opened the scoring in the seventh minute of the game, giving the visitors the perfect start. Nine minutes later the visitors were two goals to the good, as Ajax Cape Town defender Thendo Mukumela increased the lead after he was set up by Luther Singh.
The under-23s took the two-goal lead into the break and it was only in the 68th minute that they bagged their third goal. Mukumela’s Ajax teammate Grant Margeman made it three.
Lopez Texeira pulled one back for Angola in the final five minutes of the game.
