Bafana Bafana were tought an international soccer lesson last night when Portugal beat them 2 – 0 at Lausanne’s Stade Olimpique in Switserland.

The win was Portugal’s first in five matches. But they outclassed Bafana and showed how far behind Bafana are from the big guns of world soccer. Bafana’s head coach Joel Santana has a massive task ahead if is still dreaming about this squad competing against the world’s best in the Confederations Cup in June and at next year’s World Cup finals.

One could see the difference in class. Portugal are ranked 10th by Fifa while Bafana are 72nd and that gap showed.

If Bafana are to make any impression in either Fifa tournaments then Santana must wake up to the fact that goals win matches and his defensive tactics against top opposition do not work.

Bafana’s fragile ability to defend set pieces and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune’s lack of experience were exposed. Both goals one in each half came from a corner.

Portugal showed they were head and shoulders above a lack lustre Norway who Bafana defeated 2-1 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium at the weekend.

Bafana were on the back foot for most of the opening 45 minutes, which Portugal dominated. Santana showed his lack of imagination and ambition by persisted using Bernard Parker as his lone striker and employing two defensive midfielders in Lance Davids and Macbeth Sibaya.

RONALDO ON THE BENCH

Portugal’s head coach Carlos Queiroz, the former Bafana coach, made six changes to the side that drew 0-0 at home to Sweden in a World Cup qualifier in Porto at the weekend leaving his Manchester United and World Player of the Year Ronaldo on the bench but still Portugal had too much ammunition for Bafana.

If the ultra conservative Santana was hoping to come home with a 0-0 draw he was shocked into reality in the fourth minute when defender Bruno Alves headed into an empty net after a poor goalkeeping error from Khune who came and missed a corner from Chelsea star Deco.

Parker managed to get Bafana’s only shot on target during the entire first half. He forced goalkeeper Eduardo to make a good save from his well aimed striker in the seventh minute.

Parker cried out for support but received little and battled gamely on his own against an experienced and well marshalled Portugal defence that gave little away.

Portuguese debutant Edinho headed a Deco free kick over the crossbar in the 19th minute as Portugal threatened to swamp the out classed South Africans.

Khune stopped a shot from Manchester United’s Nani in the 21st minute and made another save off Nani after 34 minutes.

In between Portugal’s Atletico Madrid midfielder Maniche shot wide when he unleashed a powerful shot in the 28th minute.

Parker was set up by Teko Modise in the 34th minute but the Red Star based striker slipped and his slot went wide.

But after a bright start in the second half, Khune and his defence were suckered again from a Deco corner in the 56th minute which newcomer Edinho scrambled home to make it 2-0 and then on came Ronaldo and classy Simao and it was game over.

But Ronaldo and company were happy to go through the motions and avoid unnecessary injuries.

Bafana’s only chance in the second half fell to substitute Mabhuti Khenyeza who again fluffed a chance in a goal mouth melee.

The Ajax Cape Town striker struggled against Norway and surely now Santana has seen enough and look for a partner for Parker who can score goals on the international stage.

Bafana starting line-up: Khune, Gaxa, Thwala, Morris, Mokoena, Sibaya, Davids, Pienaar (Modubi ’64), Modise (Moriri ’75), Tshabalala (Khenyeza ’63), Parker (Mashego ’74). Source + Pic: supersport.co.za