South Africa booked a place in U-20 Africa Cup of Nations semifinals and subsequently the U-20 FIFA World Cup with an emphatic 3-1 win over Sudan at the National Heroes Stadium on Sunday.
Goals from Phakamani Mahlambi, Grant Margeman and Sibongakonke Mbatha ensured Amajita progress to the next round of the AFCON and also book a ticket in in Korea. Khaled Osman scored the face-saver for Sudan.
The first real chance of the match fell to South Africa in the 5th minute, Katlego Mohamme broke loose on the left and played an inviting cross for Grant Margeman who watched in agony as his shot missed the target.
Six minutes later, Margeman came close to give Amajita the lead when he unleashed a pile driver but the Sudan goalkeeper Ishag Mohamed dived full stretch and gangly collected the ball.
Luther Singh broke through a bevy of defenders with a piece of some silk skills and found Phakami Mahlambi with a low cross inside the box and the Bidvest Wits forward finished with aplomb in the 12th minute.
Sudan then levelled matters against the run of play, Amajita gave away possession on the left and the ball fell to Khaled Osman who powered the ball past goalkeeper Mondli Mpoto in the 24th minute.
The goal seemed to have awakened the beast in Amajita as they launched one raid after the other starting from the 31st with Singh again outpacing a defender before driving in a powerful cross which Sudan pushed out for a corner.
