DURBAN — South Africa won an Africa Cup of Nations match for the first time in nine years by outplaying Angola 2-0 to go top of Group A Wednesday. Bafana Bafana (The Boys), whose last success came against Benin at the 2004 tournament in Tunisia, triumphed through goals from center-back Siyabonga Sangweni and substitute striker Lehlohonolo Majoro. It was a much improved showing by the host nation after a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde last Saturday, and better passing, movement and finishing lifted it to four points and within sight of a quarter-finals place. South Africa made five changes from the team lucky to hold debutants Cape Verde in Soweto with Tsepo Masilela, Dean Furman, May Mahlangu, Katlego Mphela and Tokelo Rantie introduced. The changes had a desirable effect with Bafana Bafana putting an awful tournement opener behind them in the late-afternoon sun of this Indian Ocean city to deservedly lead 1-0 at half-time. Sangweni broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark and ended a 315-minute goal drought since Mahlangu converted a penalty against Malawi at the same venue last month in a warm-up match. Later, Reneilwe Letsholonyane sent fellow subsitute Majoro clear and his penalty-area doggedness paid off when he fired a shot between the legs of Lama to give the host a two-goal advantage. In late night's match, Tunisia's Youssef Msakni scored a last-minute winner with a brilliant curling shot to snatch a 1-0 victory over neighbors Algeria Tuesday. The winger cut inside after a quick attack and floated a shot wide of goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi to break the deadlock in the Group D game at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace. Thursday's matches: Ghana vs. Mali and Niger vs DR Cong. Bradford beats Villa to reach cup final Bradford produced one of the greatest upsets in English football Wednesday, overcoming the Premier League millionaires of Aston Villa to become the first fourth-tier club to reach an English Cup final in more than half a century. With players signed for barely 7,500 pounds ($12,000), Bradford held on for a 4-3 aggregate victory after losing the League Cup semifinal second leg 2-1 at Villa Park. “It's dreamland,” Bradford manager Phil Parkinson said. “We said tonight we had a chance to make history and we have done it.” Bradford has plummeted down the football pyramid while enduring financial turmoil since 2001, and is now the lowest-ranked former Premier League side, sitting 10th in England's lowest professional division. “What this means to the club and the city is tremendous,” Parkinson said. While Bradford's only major success came by winning the 1911 FA Cup, Villa has not only won the League Cup five times, but also both the English championship and FA Cup seven times and the European Cup once. Now Bradford will play Chelsea or Swansea in the final at Wembley Stadium on Feb. 24, with a Europa League place awaiting the winner. Swansea holds a 2-0 lead over Chelsea heading into Wednesday's second leg. Lazio holds Juve Disjointed Juventus was held 1-1 at home by Lazio in the first leg of their Italian Cup semifinal Tuesday despite Federico Peluso's first goal for the club. Peluso, signed from Atalanta earlier this month, outjumped his marker and headed Serie A leaders Juventus in front in the 63rd minute following Emmanuele Giaccherini's cross from the left. Lazio, third in Serie A, levelled four minutes from time when Stefano Mauri scored from close range after Antonio Candreva's corner was headed back into the area. — Agencies
