Windhoek – South Africa came from a goal down to beat Swaziland 5-1 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium to claim their place in the COSAFA Cup final.
Bafana will meet the winner of the game between Botswana and the DR Congo in the final on Saturday, another chance for the team to get some good game-time ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio in just over a month's time.
South Africa had a golden opportunity to score on nine minutes when some neat interplay resulted in Judas Moseamedi receiving the ball 14-yards out from goal, but his curling effort was brilliantly saved by Sandile Ginindiza. Swaziland though had started the game well and had a decent chance themselves on 18 minutes when former SuperSport United winger Tony Tzabedze left Abbubaker Mobara for dead before rifling in a swerving shot from range, but SA keeper Reyaad Pieterse had a fantastic reflex save to keep out the shot.
A minute later and Wonder Nhleko beat Pieterse to the ball, 40-yards out from goal, but the Swazi winger failed was clumsy in possession and was unable to take advantage of the stranded keeper.
Tzabedze then went marginally wide with a 20-yard shot as the landlocked nation continued to threaten against their more illustrious opponents. Not that South Africa were without their chances, but Lebogang Phiri, Deolin Mekoa and Thabiso Kutumela were all well off target with their efforts around the half hour mark.
But it was Sihlangu Semnikati who were to take the lead, Tzabedze showing a cool head by slotting the ball between Pieterse's legs after a wonderful bit of vision by Felix Badenhorst had seen him clean through on goal seven minutes before half-time.
Swaziland, however, found themselves on the back foot five minutes after the restart when a second yellow card for centre-back Siyabonga Mdluli saw their numbers reduced to 10, the resultant free kick slammed home into the bottom corner by Kutumela.
It took only another five minutes for Shakes Mashaba's side to take the lead, Phiri seeing his powerful volley deflecting off a defender and into the net after Swaziland had failed to properly clear a cross into the box.
South Africa were now running rampant, and it was 3-1 on the hour mark when Orlando Pirates winger Menzi Masuku struck with a low drive from 15-yards out after Ginindiza had spilt a cross.
Moseamedi added the fourth goal in the 75th minute, beating a couple of defenders in the box before squeezing the ball in at the near post.
Masuku wrapped up proceedings with a simple tap in at the far post to complete his brace and a comfortable win for Bafana - African News Agency (ANA)