South Africa’s Banyana Banyana learnt tough football lessons in Netherlands on Tuesday evening in a similar manner their brothers Bafana Bafana did in France last month.
The European champions produced a clinical display to thrash Banyana Banyana 5-1 in a friendly at Kyocera Stadium.
Jackie Groenen fired the Orange Lionesses ahead in the 12th minute with a long range shot after being gifted a loose ball on the edge of the box.
Some 13 minutes later, Spanish based striker Thembi Kgatlana leveled matters after outpacing a defender with blistering pace before slotting the ball in between the hosts’ goalkeeper Sari van Veenendall’s legs.
That equalizer kept the hosts on their toes as they closed supply lines to the Atletico Madrid striker Thembi who looked isolated while attacking without team-mates making complimentary runs.
Five minutes later, Lineth Beerensteyn volleyed into the net with her right foot after receiving a perfectly weighted cross from the left wing where South Africa struggled to clear their lines.
Viviane Miedema extended the lead as she got to the end of a flick to sweep the ball into the net in the 38th minute for the hosts to carry a 3-1 lead at break.
South Africa threatened to crawl back into the game in the second half. They had a chance to reduce the deficit from the penalty spot after Thembi was slashed down.
However, defender Matlou sent her weak effort from the spot straight into goalkeeper Veenendall’s palms in the 51st minute.
The Netherlands put the game out of the visitors’ sight when Damaris Egurrola bagged her double in the 76th minute and 90th minute.
With those insurance goals, the Netherlands extended their dominance over South Africa to eight straight games.
In the end, Banyana Banyana suffered a humiliation similar to what their brothers Bafana Bafana experienced in the 5-0 beating by France last month in a friendly.