South Africa began its final round of World Cup warmup games with a morale-boosting 4-0 win over Thailand at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.
The World Cup host scored three goals in 11 first-half minutes to mark its first match at the new venue in the northern city of Nelspruit.
Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala rewarded a boisterous home crowd when he curled in a 22nd-minute free kick for the game's opening goal. Striker Katlego Mphela then added two in three minutes as Carlos Alberto Parreira's Bafana Bafana dominated an understrength Thailand team, now coached by former England captain Bryan Robson.
FC Twente forward Bernard Parker, a second-half substitute, added the fourth in the 90th minute.
South Africa came flying through the test, as did the Mbombela after doubts earlier this year about the quality of the pitch. Mbombela's grass was dug up three times and rescued by pitch experts after the original surface failed to meet FIFA standards.
"The pitch didn't play too badly. I thought it was quite good. They had it just right for the players," Robson said.
"The atmosphere was terrific," Robson said of the 30,000 home fans who produced a deafening noise throughout the match, aided by their vuvuzelas, the plastic trumpets which are sure to upset more of South Africa's opponents in the next two months. "In fact the atmosphere was too good because trying to shout to your players, to get information to them - impossible."
Parreira's team produced a dominant display, albeit against an inexperienced Thailand side, after a lackluster buildup to their home tournament.
"There were a lot of points that were very positive in the game. I don't care who the opponents are. Very positive, a big improvement," Parreira said.
"It's the culture of the country," Parreira said of the constant hum of vuvuzelas. "We will not change it. We will stress it. We want it louder and louder and louder."
South Africa's official opening of Mbombela, which takes its inspiration from the famous Kruger game park nearby, should have produced more goals for the home team.
Under giraffe-like stadium structures, and surrounded by zebra-patterned seating, Surprise Moriri wasted an early chance when he miskicked after a Tshabalala cross.
But Tshabalala hit the target with a dipping free kick that squeezed inside Kawin Tamasatchanan's near post.
Mphela grabbed the first of his double when Bongani Khumalo flicked on a corner in the 30th minute.
Tshabalala and captain Teko Modise were then involved in slick interplay in midfield and Modise's pass allowed Mphela to score his second, as his shot sneaked in off the post.
Mphela had three clear chances in the second half to record a rare international hattrick by a South African, as the Thais were trapped in their own half for large parts of the game.
Parreira made six changes, and veteran striker Siyabonga Nomvethe had a goal disallowed for offside before Parker scored the fourth.
"This was an important game because it was the first one back," said Parreira, whose team play four more warmup games before its World Cup opener against Mexico on June 11.
