A Ronnel Donnelly hat-trick handed South Africa a 4-0 Bloemfontein win over Madagascar in the first leg of their second round CAF Women's Olympic qualifying tie on Friday.
Banyana Banyana received a bye for the first round, kicking off a double-header against Madagascar on Friday, with the second leg also set to be played in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
Only two African teams will be among the 16 competing in the Olympic women's soccer tournament at Los Angeles 2028.
Donnelly was handed a start upfront alongside Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Isabella Ludwig as Desiree Ellis set up her team to target Madagascar with crosses in from the flanks.
Donnelly's first goal came in the 26th minute off a Karabo Dhlamini corner, which sailed over goalkeeper Veresantatra Diana. The Sundowns striker stuck out her head and missed, but was rewarded for her astute positioning with a stroke of good fortune as she inadvertently bundled the ball into the net off her thigh.
There was nothing accidental whatsoever about Donnelly's second goal - also off a Dhlamini corner. In the 37th minute, she took a deft touch after receiving the ball and fired into the bottom corner.
The hat-trick was complete right after the hour-mark, as Fikile Magama picked her out with a cross low from the right and Donnelly expertly slotted into the bottom corner with her first touch.
Dhlamini almost got her third assist on Banyana's fourth goal in the 78th minute. She played Hildah Magaia through to round Diana and slot home, but Émilienne Solange ultimately turned the ball into her own net in a last-ditch attempt to clear, meaning it went down as an own goal rather than a Magaia strike with a Dhlamini assist.
At Madagascar's request, the first leg was played without fans present at Free State Stadium due to the fact they had to play on away soil due to a lack of suitable facilities in their country. Despite the provisions made for the side that had beaten South Sudan in the first round, there was little chance of an upset on Friday.
The win itself will therefore not be the most pleasing aspect of Friday evening's clash for Ellis. Arguably the biggest positive for her -- particularly ahead of crucial 2027 World Cup qualifiers against Chinese Taipei, Ecuador and Uzbekistan in November and December -- was Donnelly proving that she can not only play an instrumental role in build-up play by using her lanky frame to provide flick-ons to teammates, but can also find the back of the net effortlessly when in form.
She had scored for Banyana at last year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco during a 4-0 win over Mali, but had failed to score in this year's tournament despite several impressive performances.
On Friday, she not only netted a hat-trick but could have had more goals still. Donnelly was particularly unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when she was clipped in the box in the 56th minute upon receiving the ball from Hildah Magaia - leading to her stumbling and firing wide.
Thembi Kgatlana only came on for Ludwig in the 70th minute - likely used sparingly due to jetlag, a desire to preserve freshness, and an opportunity to experiment against weaker opposition.
Donnelly took the opportunity the situation had presented to her with both hands and left her side with one foot already in the third round ahead of Tuesday.
After having only one shot and 27% of the possession in the first leg, Madagascar will hope to avoid another thrashing in the second.