BAFANA PULL A DOUBLE OVER ETHIOPIA TO RETURN TO THE SUMMIT

• Fans returned to the stadium for the first time in 18 months

• The pace of the game was fast and furious in the opening exchanges

• Bafana were under pressure most of the encounter with Ethiopia

South Africa reshuffled the squad that played in the 3 – 1 drubbing of Ethiopia the past weekend with four changes to the starting line-up. Hugo Broos roped in Victor Letsoalo, Evidence Makgopa, Yusuf Maart and Njabulo Ngcobo coming into the side.

Fans returned to the stadium for the first time in 18 months after the government decided to move the country to Lock Down Protocol Level 1 even though the attendance was limited to on 2000 people. Bafana Bafana were reeling with confidence after they trashed their opponents in their backyard last weekend and were obvious favorites in the return leg at home.

The pace of the game was fast and furious in the opening exchanges. Ethiopia had a penalty appeal turned down after Abubeker Nasser’s shot appeared to strike the arm of Rushine de Reuck.

Bafana took the lead in the 11th minute. Maart delivered an in-swinging corner to the back post which Letsoalo headed goal-bound and Getaneh Kebede tried to clear but ended up putting the ball into his own net.

Bafana were under pressure most of the encounter with Ethiopia mounting pressure in a bid to salvage a win but the Hugo Broos were able to absorb the pressure to carve out a win.