Chile too hot for outclassed South Africa

Quick and slick Chile cruised to a 2-0 victory over 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in a friendly match on Wednesday.

Jorge Valdivia put Le Roja (The Red One) ahead in first-half stoppage time at a packed Peter Mokaba Stadium in this northern city and man-of-the-match Alexis Sanchez added a second on 67 minutes.

Chile, fourth behind Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina in the South American World Cup qualifying race after 10 rounds, impressed from the kick-off and would not have been flattered by a wider winning margin.

Short, simple passing often left Bafana Bafana (The Boys) chasing shadows and they quickly closed down the World Cup hosts, who deployed only Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy up front until half-time.

And the speed of the Chileans when attacking created numerous chances that must have satisfied even hard-to-please coach Marcel Bielsa, who fled to the dressing room immediately the final whistle blew.

Bielsa made his intentions clear when the South Americans landed in South Africa Sunday, barring the media and public from his two pre-match training sessions in Johannesburg.

With the Argentina-born coach dodging the post-match interviews, it was left to Sanchez from Italian club Udinese to face the cameras and his answers via an interpreter were a masterclass in diplomacy.

“I am very happy for myself and my team. It was a very good game and ideal preparation for our World Cup qualifier in Peru next month,” said the man who tormented South Africa leftback Tsepo Masilela throughout.

Asked about the team he and his team-mates had toyed with at times in the closing stages of a full-blooded friendly, Sanchez replied: “They are a very good team with very good players.”

Brazil-born South Africa coach Joel Santana said: “We need these difficult matches to build a team for the future. We also created chances, but Chile were luckier.”

Many Bafana supporters who booed their heroes when Chile went two goals ahead would disagree as goalkeeper and captain Claudio Bravo was rarely tested by a lacklustre strike force.

Valdivia half volleyed Chile ahead after South Africa failed to clear a Mark Gonzalez cross and Sanchez dribbled through several tackles before firing wide of goalkeeper Calvin Marlin.