South Africa and Mozambique met in their Group A clash in the opening game of the African Nations Championship in Cape Town.
As host nation, Gordon Igesund's side qualified automatically, while their opponents had to overcome Angola to reach the tournament.
Mozambique surprised the home team early on as Antonio Diogo fired them ahead in the 11th minute, but Igesund's side were soon level from the spot from Bernard Parker.
From then on South Africa dominated as another strike from Parker and one from Hlompho Kekana handed them victory.
Read how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the African Nations Championship clash between South Africa and Mozambique.
The host nation, South Africa, will be looking to get their campaign off to the perfect start after not having to through the rigours of qualifying for the tournament. Gordon Igesund will be hoping his side can take an early advantage over their Group A rivals.
Joao Chissano's side will be looking to spoil the party for the hosts on the opening day of the tournament. They face an uphill task going against South Africa, Mali and Nigeria in Group A, so they will hope to spring a surprise today.
The team news has just been announced and we'll start with the home side.
SOUTH AFRICA STARTING XI: Khune, Moon, Mokeke, Mkhwanazi, Nthethe, Kekana, Tshabalala, Vilakazi, Chabangu, Tshabalala, Parker, Mashego.
SOUTH AFRICA SUBS: Mpontshane, Josephs, Gumede, Langerman, Mere, Mbatha, Mngonyama, Chapman, Mashamaite, Manqele.
MOZAMBIQUE STARTING XI: Soarito, Kito, Chico, Monis, Sonito, Diogo, Miro, Dario Khan, Lanito, Josemar, Alarvito.
MOZAMBIQUE SUBS: Timana, Pinto, Mazive, Gabito, Beto, Manuelito, Maninho, Mario, Albino, Manuel, Imo Pilale, Dito.
The players are out on the pitch and we should be underway shortly.
We're underway in the African Nations Championship.
Slow start to proceedings as Mozambique enjoyed a spell of possession in the early stages but Kito held onto the ball for too long and was dispossessed, then Mashego gave the ball away for the hosts. We're still trying to develop a tempo to the game.
The home side threaten as Moon gets behind the Mozambique defence and he has the chance to whip a cross to Parker in the middle of the area, but Monis is able to head the ball behind.
From the resulting corner Soarito gathers the ball to stop the attacking momentum from South Africa.
GOAL! South Africa 0-1 Mozambique (Diogo)
Mozambique take the lead as Diogo collected the ball on the edge of the area from Sonito and he drilled the ball at goal, and it took a deflection to completely change it's direction to wrong foot Khune and land in the corner.
CHANCE! South Africa press to try and get back into the game and Parker fires an effort from the edge of the area, but his shot goes just wide of the target as the visitors defenders backed off him.
The hosts work the ball on the edge of the box with a few slick passes and Vilakazi threads the ball through to Mashego but he loses on control just as he was about to turn on goal.
CHANCE! Parker comes over to the right and whips a cross in on his left foot for the advancing Vilakazi and he makes good contact with the ball from six yards out, but Soarito is there to turn the ball past the post for a corner.
Mozambique have backed right off since the goal and have been completely at the mercy of the South African attackers, they have to get back in the game and start playing again.
The hosts seem to have a lot a little bit of momentum since the miss from Vilakazi, Tshabalala sums this up as he and Mashego are on completely the wrong wavelength, and his pass goes out for a goalkick with the home side in a decent position.
South Africa win a free kick right on the edge of the box as Tshabalala is hauled down by Monis and Mashego stands over the ball 19 yards from goal.
Mashego hits the ball with power from the edge of the area and his effort goes well wide of the target. He should have at least worked Soarito from that distance.
CHANCE! South Africa turn up the heat again, as the ball pinballs around the box before Chabangu finally hits it from inside the area, but his shot goes well over the bar.
PENALTY TO SOUTH AFRICA!
South Africa win a penalty as Moon ran into the penalty area and was bearing down on goal before he was tripped from behind by Chico and the referee pointed to the spot.
GOAL! South Africa 1-1 Mozambique (Parker)
Parker steps up to take the kick and he fires his effort into the bottom corner of the net, sending Soarito the wrong way to bring his side level.
South Africa deserved that goal from their response to going behind and will be eyeing a half-time lead if they can keep up their level performance from the last 15 minutes.
OFF THE POST! South Africa come within inches of taking the lead as Tshabalala raided down the left and found space for a cross as he laid the ball on a plate for Mashego and he rolled an effort towards goal, but his shot hit the post and rebounded to safety. That was so close!
Mozambique finally get out of their own half for the first time in 20 minutes as they win a free kick down the left. Lanito takes the kick but it doesn't beat the first man and the hosts clear with ease.
South Africa win a free kick down the right and Tshabalala whips a dangerous cross into the box and Chico has to be at his best to clear the ball with a great header, as Parker was waiting behind him at the back post, ready to knock the ball into the net.
Mozambique break and Diogo has the chance to get his second of the game as he collects the ball from Sonito's pass, but his effort is terrible as it flies well over the bar and wasn't even close to troubling Khune.
There will be one minute of added time.
HALF TIME: South Africa 1-1 Mozambique
After taking a shock lead in the 11th minute Mozambique went right into their shell and it was complete dominance from the host nation. Parker levelled from the penalty spot but he and his teammates could have had so many more goals but it is still level at the break.
Mozambique have to find that energy they had to take the lead, as they barley got out of their own half after taking the lead through Diogo. South Africa kept them well penned in and if they do that in the second half, the hosts will surely have victory in the opening game of the tournament.
We're back underway in South Africa.
Mozambique start the half well as Diogo gets in behind the South African defence down the left and he clips a cross back towards the penalty spot, but no player in red is there to meet the ball, which would have presented an excellent chance for the visitors.
A cross from the right from Moon travels all the way to the feet of Tshabalala inside the penalty area, he shoots first time but his goalbound shot is well blocked by Chico and Mozambique manage to clear the danger.
Mozambique break as Alarvito threads a defence-splitting pass to Lanito down the left and he speeds towards the box, but then decides to cut back onto his right foot and he fires an effort at goal, but it is tame and Khnue gather it with ease.
Mozambique break again this time through the middle and Diogo races towards the edge of the box and fires a right-footed shot at goal, which goes well wide of the target.
GOAL! South Africa 2-1 Mozambique (Kekana)
What a goal from Kekana! He picks the ball up from about 35 yards out and lets fly with an absolute belter, which explodes off his foot and flies past the outstretched hand of Soarito into the top corner of the net. That was special and it hands the hosts the lead.
South Africa are really upping the ante now, as they are passing the ball at will and Mozambique are clinging on for dear life now, as they have been since the 15th minute.
Tshabalala gets in down the left for the hosts and tries to hit a low cross towards Parker, but his cross is cleared and he gets the ball back so he tries an effort himself, which is well blocked by Miro.
South Africa have control of the game and it's up to them how many goal they want to score this afternoon, it's that easy for them at the moment.
The hosts break on the counter down the right and Parker speeds towards the box and fire a right-footed effort at goal, but his shot is straight at Soarito who makes a comfortable save.
South Africa seemed to have eased off the gas a little bit in the last few minutes, their endeavours in the first half to get back into the game may be taking their toll on them now, so they could do with some more fresh legs.
CHANCE! Mozambique threaten to get a leveller as a cross from the left by Alarvito is headed into the path of Josemar who fires an volleyed effort at goal, it goes straight into the arms of Khune, who holds the ball with ease.
For all their faults in this game the visitors are still alive and the longer South Africa take to kill off this game, the more hope it will breath into Mozambique's cause.
GOAL! South Africa 3-1 Mozambique (Parker)
South Africa do get their third and it's a fantastic team goal as Tshabalala plays the ball to Vilakazi, who plays it back to him quickly and he then finds Parker in space inside the box on the left, and he drills a powerful effort into the top corner leaving Soarito no chance. Game over!
Mbekile has a chance to add a fourth as he finds space inside the area, latching onto a ball from Parker but he can only direct his header over the bar.
Mozambique are knocking the ball hopefully around the South African half as we draw close to the final whistle, they have been totally outclassed since taking the lead.
Another effort from Mbekile, who seems determine to register shots at goal and this time he powers an effort from about 35 yards, but unlike Kekana his shot goes well wide of the target.
There will be three minutes of added time.
South Africa wind down the clock as they keep possession with the ball in the wide areas, as the fresh legs of Mbekile runs to the corner to take more time off, but he eventually gets tackled by Khan and Mozambique get the goal kick.
FULL TIME: South Africa 3-1 Mozambique
South Africa come from behind to put in an impressive performance in their African Nations Championship openers as Bernard Parker scores a brace while Hlompho Kekana also got on the scoresheet with an absolute bullet. That puts the host nation in a good place to start their Group A campaign with games against Nigeria and Mali to follow.
Mozambique were stifled due to that fact they took the lead much earlier than they would have liked. The old cliche scored too early was present in this game, as after they went behind South Africa attacked the visitors all guns blazing and didn't relent till they got their third goal. It wasn't a great performance from Mozambique as they went into their shells too much and life will only get tougher in the rest of their campaign.
Thanks for joining our commentary today. We'll be back with further action from the tournament later when Mali take on Nigeria, but from me, it's goodbye.
Written by
Simon Sinclair
Simon Sinclair
