Bafana Bafana get in the groove

May 17, 2010 - Agencies |

Nelspruit (South Africa)

Hosts South Africa launched their World Cup countdown with a 4-0 thrashing of Thailand on 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 crowed as one of 10 Cup venues passed its test after the pitch was relaid several times.
Bernard Parker added a fourth in the final minute as South Africa matched a record winning margin created with a victory by the same score against Chad in an African Nations Cup qualifier.
But much tougher tests lie ahead against Bulgaria, Colombia and Denmark before South Africa face Mexico in the June 11 opener and then tackle former world champions Uruguay and France.
S. Korea strike late to down Ecuador
Two late goals saw South Korea secure a comfortable 2-0 victory against Ecuador on Sunday in a World Cup warm-up tie.
The home team took the lead in the 73rd minute when Lee Seung-Ryol of FC Seoul scored from the edge of the penalty area in front of a capacity crowd at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Lee Chung-Yong of Bolton Wanderers added a goal 10 minutes later.
In Nyon, a late penalty by Roque Santa Cruz gave Paraguay a 1-0 win against North Korea in their first World Cup warm-up match on Saturday.

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