WC hosts S.Africa back on winning trail

OFFENBACH AM MAIN (Germany) (AFP) World Cup hosts South Africa got back on the winning trail by defeating non-qualifers Jamaica 2-0 in a friendly at Kickers Offenbach Stadium Wednesday. Veteran striker Surprise Moriri punished sloppy defending off a cross to drive a low shot into the corner of the net on 51 minutes and set up Bafana Bafana (The Boys) for a first success in four international outings. Siyabonga Nomvete added a second five minutes from full-time in this German city as he ran on to a pass from fellow substitute Andile Jali and slammed the ball wide of goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr into the net. Jamaica, last-minute replacements for China, faded after failing to convert a few first-half chances in a game between teams relying almost exclusively on home-based players. South Africa made one change from the team held 0-0 by fellow qualifiers North Korea in Frankfurt last week with Siboniso Gaxa replacing Thabo Nthethe at rightback. Jamaica arrived in Germany via the United States just 10 hours before the kick-off with a squad of local players and San Jose Earthquakes striker Ryan Johnson. With three previous matches between the countries drawn and delivering only two goals it was no surprise that the first half ended goalless before a few hundred spectators. South Africa had scored just five goals in six matches since Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreirra returned last November for a second spell in charge. They could have added to that total less than two minutes into the match as a glancing Moriri header off a Siphiwe Tshabalala free kick forced Kerr into an acrobatic parry at the expense of a corner. But if the largely South Africa-supporting crowd thought this was the start of a siege on the Jamaican goalmouth they were sadly mistaken with the Reggae Boyz coming close to scoring twice by the half-hour mark. Sleepy South Africa failed to pick up Dicoy Williams off a Xavian Virgo free kick and his near-post header beat goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and flew just over the bar.