Modise double hands Bafana win

DURBAN – South Africa defeated Canada 2-0 in an international friendly played at Durban’s Absa Stadium on Tuesday evening, with Orlando Pirates midfielder Teko Modise notching his second brace for the national team.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira fielded a team with just three overseas-based players in the starting XI, handing a crop of second choice prospects the chance to put themselves into the reckoning for the MTN Africa Cup of Nations squad. And the experimental team responded to the Brazilian tactician’s challenge, putting the North American visitors under pressure from the word go to produce a morale-boosting victory in their first ever meeting with Canada.A defensive error allowed South Africa the first genuine sight of goal in the sixth minute but Thembinkosi Fanteni fired his shot straight at Lars Hirschfeld, allowing the Canadian goalkeeper to make an easy save with his legs.The Ajax Cape Town striker was unlucky to see his header rebound off the upright just a minute later after a superb right-wing cross from clubmate Bryce Moon.Canada midfielder Julian De Guzman had the visitors’ first effort on goal in the 11th minute, an ambitious long-range drive that was easily dealt with by ‘keeper Rowen Fernandez.A few minutes later Thanda Royal Zulu forward Bernard Parker put a dipping free kick just over the crossbar, an effort that had Hirschfeld scrambling across his line in concern.German-based forward Josh Simpson had a fine chance for the Maple Leaves in the 20th minute when some indecisive defending allowed the ball through to the Canadian attacker, but he rushed his shot and pulled it across the face of goal.Modise handed the hosts a deserved lead six minutes before halftime with a superb goal, fooling a defender with a neat dummy before curling the ball into the top corner for his fourth international goal.The Pirates playmaker doubled his tally for the night from the penalty spot in first-half injury time after Fanteni was fouled in the 18-yard area by Canada captain Paul Stalteri, handing South Africa a 2-0 lead at the break.Immediately after the interval Canada threatened through the energetic Tomasz Radzinski, but South Africa were soon back on top, as Hirschfeld needed defender Kevin McKenna to mop up after the goal minder had palmed Lance Davids’s shot into the danger area.Guzman forced Fernandez into a good save with a snap effort in the 70th minute that threatened to run across the goalkeeper and inside his far post, before Chabangu blasted over seconds later on a Bafana counter attack.Radzinski outstripped the home defence with a surging run seven minutes later but Fernandez denied the former Everton and Fulham striker in what was the last genuine scoring chance for either team.With just 11 minutes to play Canada were reduced to ten men when Stalteri received his second caution of the night.Teams South Africa: Fernandez, Moon, Mhlongo, Fransman (Hendricks 83′), Masilela, Davids (Carelse 66′), Dikgacoi, Modise (Mere 89′), Parker, Chabangu (Sono 75′), Fanteni (Smith 66′).Coach: Parreira Canada: Hirschfeld, Stalteri, Hastings, McKenna, Klukowski, Hutchinson, De Guzman, Bernier (Johnson 73′), Radzinski (De Jong 84′), Hume (Occean 61′), Simpson (Nakajima-Farran 46′).Coach: Mitchell Referee: Kalyoto (Malawi) Cautions: Mhlongo; Bernier, Stalteri, De Guzman Dismissal: Stalteri 79′ – SupersoccerAnd the experimental team responded to the Brazilian tactician’s challenge, putting the North American visitors under pressure from the word go to produce a morale-boosting victory in their first ever meeting with Canada.A defensive error allowed South Africa the first genuine sight of goal in the sixth minute but Thembinkosi Fanteni fired his shot straight at Lars Hirschfeld, allowing the Canadian goalkeeper to make an easy save with his legs.The Ajax Cape Town striker was unlucky to see his header rebound off the upright just a minute later after a superb right-wing cross from clubmate Bryce Moon.Canada midfielder Julian De Guzman had the visitors’ first effort on goal in the 11th minute, an ambitious long-range drive that was easily dealt with by ‘keeper Rowen Fernandez.A few minutes later Thanda Royal Zulu forward Bernard Parker put a dipping free kick just over the crossbar, an effort that had Hirschfeld scrambling across his line in concern.German-based forward Josh Simpson had a fine chance for the Maple Leaves in the 20th minute when some indecisive defending allowed the ball through to the Canadian attacker, but he rushed his shot and pulled it across the face of goal.Modise handed the hosts a deserved lead six minutes before halftime with a superb goal, fooling a defender with a neat dummy before curling the ball into the top corner for his fourth international goal.The Pirates playmaker doubled his tally for the night from the penalty spot in first-half injury time after Fanteni was fouled in the 18-yard area by Canada captain Paul Stalteri, handing South Africa a 2-0 lead at the break.Immediately after the interval Canada threatened through the energetic Tomasz Radzinski, but South Africa were soon back on top, as Hirschfeld needed defender Kevin McKenna to mop up after the goal minder had palmed Lance Davids’s shot into the danger area.Guzman forced Fernandez into a good save with a snap effort in the 70th minute that threatened to run across the goalkeeper and inside his far post, before Chabangu blasted over seconds later on a Bafana counter attack.Radzinski outstripped the home defence with a surging run seven minutes later but Fernandez denied the former Everton and Fulham striker in what was the last genuine scoring chance for either team.With just 11 minutes to play Canada were reduced to ten men when Stalteri received his second caution of the night.Teams South Africa: Fernandez, Moon, Mhlongo, Fransman (Hendricks 83′), Masilela, Davids (Carelse 66′), Dikgacoi, Modise (Mere 89′), Parker, Chabangu (Sono 75′), Fanteni (Smith 66′).Coach: Parreira Canada: Hirschfeld, Stalteri, Hastings, McKenna, Klukowski, Hutchinson, De Guzman, Bernier (Johnson 73′), Radzinski (De Jong 84′), Hume (Occean 61′), Simpson (Nakajima-Farran 46′).Coach: Mitchell Referee: Kalyoto (Malawi) Cautions: Mhlongo; Bernier, Stalteri, De Guzman Dismissal: Stalteri 79’ – Supersoccer