IT WAS another weekend where many of the South African players who will take on Brazil on Wednesday had to be happy with a place on the bench for their respective European sides.

Ayanda Patosi came on for the final 13 minutes of Lokeren's 1-0 loss at Mechelen on Friday night, yet another start from the bench for him.

Darren Keet started for Kotrijk as they raced into a 4-0 lead inside 35 minutes against Cercle Brugge and held on to that advantage to keep their slim hopes of reaching the top six alive.

Andileiime ending at that same scoreline.

Keegan Ritchie was again not involved for Slavia Prague as they won 2-1 at home to city rivals Dukla Praha.

Steven Pienaar was praised by Everton boss Roberto Martinez for his link-up play with Leighton Baines as the Toffees beat in-form West Ham 1-0 in the English Premiership.

Tokelo Rantie got the Bafana Bafana bragging rights as he came on as a second-half substitute in Bournemouth's 5-0 hammering of Bongani Khumalo and Dean Furman's Doncaster Rovers.

Andrew Surman also started for Bournemouth, but left-back Kgosi Ntlhe was again missing for Peterborough United in their 1-0 loss to Crawley Town.

Kamohelo Mokotjo missed PEC Zwolle's 3-3 home draw with struggling NEC in the Dutch league.

Daylon Claasen came off the bench for Polish side Lech Poznan in their 4-0 thumping of Piast Gliwice. He had started last week's 5-1 loss to Pogon Szczecin.