Lebohang Maboe scored a brace of goals as South Africa romped to a 4-1 victory over Namibia in their COSAFA Cup Plate semifinal at a freezing Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday. South Africa had failed to find their touch in front of goal against Madagascar at the weekend, losing on penalties, but their young side were far more clinical against what was a full-strength Namibian line-up.
Along with Maboe, Aubrey Modiba and captain Siyanda Xulu also scored their first international goals, while Deon Hotto netted an excellent consolation for the Namibians.
South Africa now face the winner of the second Plate semi-final between Botswana and Swaziland in the final of the secondary COSAFA competition on Friday night.
Ryan Moon charged down an attempted clearance from Namibia goalkeeper Maximilian Mbaeva with the ball falling to Maboe, but the gloveman did well to recover and make a save from the latter's goal-bound shot.
Teenage midfielder Wiseman Meyiwa's slip allowed Welwin Hanamub to bare down on goal, but his shot was straight at Reyaad Pieterse.
The home side took the lead in somewhat dubious circumstances when Vitapi Ngaruka was adjudged to have handled the ball as Modibe kicked it against his arm. It looked a tough award from Mozambique referee Celso Alvacao. Modiba stepped up himself and easily buried the ball from 12-yards.
It was 2-0 three minutes later when Maboe was played into space in the box by Moon and with just Mbaeva to beat, slotted his shot into the corner of the net.
It was the kind of clinical finishing that was sorely missing in South Africa's quarterfinal against Madagascar on Sunday.
It was very nearly 3-0 minutes later when the excellent Links, who was having a debut to remember, supplied a magnificent cross that was perfect for Moon.
The Kaizer Chiefs forward got his header on target, but Mbaeva made a fine point-blank save.
Namibia hit back five minutes before the break when substitute Absalom Iimbondi provided a perfect chipped pass over the back of the Bafana Bafana defence and South African-based Hotto planted a fine volley passed Pieterse.
With that goal Hotto moved past Namibia legend Johannes 'Congo' Hindjou as the leading scorer for the country in the COSAFA Cup competition with his sixth.
But that Namibian joy was short-lived as more excellent work from Links created a shooting chance for Maboe, who's effort from 14-yards was deflected in.
Namibia started the second half with only 10 players on the pitch because their intended substitute Itamunua Keimuine was not ready in time. He eventually entered the fray a few minutes into the half as a replacement for skipper Ronald Ketjijere.
South Africa's fourth arrived on 53 minutes when a free-kick was flicked on and Mbaeva could only palm the ball into the path of Xulu to score at the back post.
The game fell into a bit of a lull as the second half wore on, though 17-year-old striker Lyle Foster came close to his first international goal with a headed chance that was tipped over by Mbaeva.