Quinton Fortune banged in a last minute penalty to pull South Africa back from two goals down and earn his side a 2-2 tie in the opening game of World Cup Group B against Paraguay.
Fortune drove his spot kick into the top right corner after the referee judged that Paraguay goalie Ricardo Tavarelli had pulled down Sibusiso Zuma.
South Africa’s other strike came from Estanislao Struway’s own goal in the 62nd minute, when he deflected Teboho Mokoena’s shot from close to the penalty spot into his own net.
Paraguay had taken the lead when Roque Santa Cruz headed Francisco Arce’s free kick past South Africa’s onrushing keeper Andre Arendse in the 39th minute.
The South Americans made it two in the 56th minute, when Arce curled a 25-metre free kick into the top left corner, beyond the outstretched arms of the diving Arendse.
The Paraguayans had the better of the first half, with Arce and the lively Santa Cruz putting heavy pressure on the South Africans.
Two other headers from the Bayern Munich striker were tipped over the bar by Arendse. Paraguay was playing without influential goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert, who was serving the last of a four-match suspension for spitting on a Brazilian opponent in the qualifiers.
South Africa also went for a change of goalie, unexpectedly playing Arendse in place of usual starter Hans Vonk. The game was bad-tempered at times, with referee Lubos Michel of Slovakia handing out eight yellow cards – four to each team. The match was played in front of a crowd of 25 000 – less than half the capacity of the Busan stadium.
Spain and Slovenia, who meet later Sunday, complete the Group B Lineups: PARAGUAY: 22-Ricardo Tavarelli (GK), 2-Franciso Arce, 4. Carlos Gamarra (C), 5-Celso Ayala, 6-Estanislao Struway (Juan Carlos Franco, 86,) 8-Guido Alvarenga (14-Diego Gavilan, 66), 9-Roque Santa Cruz, 10-Roberto Acuna, 11-Jorge Campos (16-Gustavo Morinigo, 73), 18-Julio Cesar Caceres, 21-Denis Caniza.
SOUTH AFRICA: 16-Andre Arendse (GK) 2-Cyril Nzama, 3-Bradley Carnell, 4-Aaron Mokoena, 6-MacBeth Sibaya, 7-Quinton Fortune, 12-Teboho Mokoena, 13-Pierre Issa (9-MacDonald Mukasi, 28), 15-Sibusiso Zuma, 17-Benni McCarthy (23-George Koumantarakis, 78), 19-Lucas Radebe (C). Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia). ? Sapa-AP