Amajita took a giant step towards the semifinals of the COSAFA U20 Qualifiers with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Angola at the ABB Stadium in Matola, Mozambique, on Monday.
Needing to back up their opening win over Lesotho, Raymond Mdaka's charges were made to work for all three points by a determined Angola side that arrived full of confidence after beating Eswatini in their first outing.
Mdaka handed starts to new arrivals Emile Witbooi and Cayden Fortune, with Milimo Nalumango and Kamohelo Mareletse dropping out of the line-up, and the changes paid off as Amajita once again showed their quality at both ends of the pitch.
Captain Lazola Maku led by example, breaking the deadlock with a superb strike in the 14th minute to settle South African nerves. The advantage was doubled just before the interval when Steven Mendes powered home a header from a Witbooi free-kick, taking his tally to three goals in two matches and keeping him among the tournament's leading scorers.
Angola came out firing after the break, but Amajita remained organised and disciplined. Mdaka shuffled his pack with the introductions of Sanele Simelane and Lakham Gqongo, although Gqongo's afternoon was cut short after suffering a facial injury that required stitches. Zazi Qotoyi was called upon as South Africa managed the game professionally despite Angola's sustained pressure.
The clean sheet was as impressive as the result, with Amajita yet to concede a goal in the competition after two matches.
Mdaka praised both the tactical discipline and fighting spirit shown by his players against what he viewed as one of the strongest teams in the group.
"We felt Angola was one of the strong teams in the group. Credit to the boys because they showed tactical discipline, character and the spirit to fight. We identified their strengths and managed to deal with them defensively without compromising our attack. The plan worked and the players executed it very well," said Mdaka.
Maku's influential display earned him the Player of the Match award, making him the second South African player to claim the honour after Mendes in the opening fixture.
The defending champions now sit top of Group B with six points from two matches, having scored five goals without reply. A draw against Eswatini in their final group fixture will be enough to book a place in the semifinals.
Only the group winners and the best second-placed team will advance to the last four, while the two finalists will secure qualification for next year's U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.