Bafana Bafana have concluded their round of international friendly matches on a positive note after edging past DR Congo 1-0 at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.
It was a decent turnout in Orlando compared to their previous friendly match against Namibia at the weekend, where it was half empty during their uninspiring stalemate goalless draw.
Coach Hugo Broos named a totally different squad that started against the Namibians, which saw the likes of Percy Tau, Mihlali Mayambela, Zakhele Lepasa, and Mothobi Mvala, amongst others, walk straight into the line-up.
SuperSport United shot-stopper Ricardo Goss stood between the post after number one goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was reported to be ill ahead of the encounter.
As Broos said ahead of the fixture, that he would demand a winning mentality from his charges, Bafana came out with an intent to show whose the boss on home turf.
Burnley striker Lyle Foster broke the deadlock 25 minutes into the game, when he pounced on a cross that was whipped in by Mvala and was not dealt with by the defender.
The Congolese tried to get back into the game, but the South Africans kept them at bay and went into the break with the narrowest of margins lead.
Both teams came back from the break with more energy, as they exchanged blows at both ends but not creating enough clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Midfielder Bathusi Aubaas almost got the second goal of the match in the 85th minute, when his shot from range was stopped by goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi with an acrobatic save, after the shot got deflected by defender Jordan Ikoko on its way to goal.
It was end to-end stuff at the stroke of full-time, but the South Africans held on to their slender leader over the central African giants, thanks to a last-minute goal clearance from Nyiko Mobbie after Goss misjudged the ball and came off his posts.
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