World Cup hosts South Africa thrash Thailand

Hosts South Africa launched their 2010 World Cup countdown with a 4-0 thrashing of Thailand Sunday in the opening match at Mbombela Stadium.

Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala scored once and striker Katlego Mphela twice in a 12-minute first-half spell before a sell-out 30,000 crowd as one of 10 Cup venues passed its initial test after recent pitch problems.

Substitute Bernard Parker added a fourth goal in the final minute as South Africa matched a record winning margin achieved against Chad in an African Nations Cup qualifier.

But tougher warm-ups lie ahead against Bulgaria, Colombia and Denmark before South Africa face Mexico in the June 11 Cup opener and then former world champions Uruguay and France.

“I was satisfied with the performance and the result and we could have scored more goals against opponents who were not strong,” Brazil-born South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said.

Thailand coach and former Manchester United and England skipper Bryan Robson said: “South Africa played well and scored a few good goals. It was a difficult game for us as some clubs would not release players and the trip was long.”

The visitors made their intentions clear from the kick-off, barely leaving their own half during the early exchanges and it took the ‘War Elephants’ six minutes to launch an attack.

Bafana Bafana (The Boys) had managed just seven goals in seven outings since Parreira returned last November for a second spell and the early signs were not encouraging with captain Teko Modise banging a free kick into a wall.

Mphela vowed ahead of the game to end his goal drought, but fluffed a good chance to do so on by miskicking a cross after sloppy defending set Tshabalala free.

But despite having all 11 players behind the ball, the Thais did not look comfortable at the back and the inevitable first goal arrived midway through the opening half.

Set-piece specialist Tshabalala struck a not particularly venomous free kick through a disintegrating wall and the ball landed in the net with goalkeeper Kawin Thamasatchanan reacting slowly.

South Africa doubled their lead on 30 minutes as Tshabalala turned provider by swinging a corner into the heart of the goalmouth and unguarded Mphela chested the ball over the line.

Mphela struck again three minutes later by running on to a clever Modise pass and his close range shot hit the goalkeeper and a post before ending in the net.

Thailand tested South African custodian Itumeleng Khune for the first time 17 minutes into the second half with a curling free kick that was pushed to safety.

Big-screen replays proved Siyabonga Nomvete was wrongly ruled offside after firing home from close range with 10 minutes left, but the fourth goal did come when Parker finished off a Modise pass.