South Africa beat New Zealand in Confed cup

Bafana Bafana rescued their Confederations Cup with an easy 2-0 win over an outclassed New Zealand in a one sided Group A clash played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Wednesday night.

The All Whites -- beaten 5-0 by Spain in their first match -- were lucky to have got off so lightly against a fired up Bafana roared on by an appreciative crowd of 28 000.

Spain head the group and have qualified for the semifinals with six points followed by Bafana on four points, Iraq on one and the All Whites with zero after two games. But Bafana are not home and dry just yet.

They need to take a point off Spain, the European champions and world's top ranked side when they meet in the final group fixture at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday night (8.30pm) to be safe.

Spain beat Iraq 1-0 in Bloemfontein in the other group A clash and have qualified for the semifinals. But should the the match between New Zealand and Iraq in Rustenburg on Saturday night (also 8.30pm) end in a draw or a win for the All Whites, Bafana would go through to the semifinals.

A win for Iraq would mean that the second place could be decided on goal difference should Bafana lose to Spain.

Bafana head coach Joel Santana made only one change from the team that drew 0-0 against Iraq at Ellis Park last Sunday in the opening group match. He brought fit again Steven Pienaar as a more creative option in midfield and dropped the hard working defensive workhorse Benson Mhlongo.

The move worked. Pienaar made the world of difference in the middle of the park. However, the score could have been bigger had the players not tried too hard to score and taken the selfish option instead of finding a teammate in a better position.

The criticism leveled at the strikers this week had the desired effect. The All Whites were out on the feet at the end and looked out of the depth at top international level. The All Whites, as expected, tried to kick Bafana out of the game and unsettle the home side with their physical style of play.

But Bafana were ready and for once Santana got it right. What Bafana did well was to close down spaces and not allow the Kiwis room. Bafana dominated the midfield, with Pienaar and Teko Modise carving holes in the shaky All Whites defence.

Bafana were in control for most of the first half and should have been 3-0 ahead at halftime.

The All Whites were chasing shadows for most of the opening spell. But again Bafana failed to put the boot in where it mattered most -- in front of goals.

The hosts had to be content with a well taken Bernard Parker goal in the 21st minute. Striker Terror Fanteni continued where he left off against Iraq wasting chances.

He was set up in the second minute by a terrific cross from Modise only to miss the ball completely and kick fresh air from less than six metres from the Kiwi goal. Pienaar tested Moss again but the Kiwis number one easily dealt with the Everton star's 17th minute shot.

Bafana were rewarded in the 21st minute when outstanding left back Tsepo Masilela, turned Kiwi right back Dave Mulligan inside out and found Parker who clinically finished putting the home side 1-0 ahead and getting the crowd on their feet and right behind their side.

Then Parker should have made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute when he picked up the ball just inside his half, raced for goal but with Siboniso Gaxa unmarked on the right and in a better position, the Red Star Belgrade striker went for glory and Moss did well to get a foot to his shot and put the ball behind for a corner. Bafana came out firing after halftime, looking for that second goal to settle their nerves.

They got it in the 52nd minute thanks to the some great inter passing starting with Pienaar. The Everton playmaker found Masilela set up Parker and the fired up striker did the rest to notch his second goal and put Bafana into a 2-0 lead.

Moss denied Parker his hat-trick when the All Whites keeper did well to save his header from a Modise free kick on 64 minutes.

Substitute Katlego Mashego missed three gilt edged chances when he fired his shot straight at Moss in the 83rd minute, seconds later fluffed another chance in front of goal.

Then the Orlando Pirates hung his head when he with only Moss to beat again shot straight at the keeper when it looked easier to score than miss.

South Africa 2 (Parker 21, 52) New Zealand 0