Bafana Bafana turned in a five star performance to draw 1-1 against 39th world ranked Bulgaria in an entertaining friendly international played at a near capacity Orlando Stadium on a freezing Monday night.

Bulgaria were the biggest test for Bafana in 2010 and showed

that they are improving with every match.

The new-look Bafana have now gone nine matches unbeaten under

Brazilian head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira who took charge of the

ailing side last November.

Bafana played with passion, pride and committment and with a bit

of luck could easily have beaten their more fancied opponent.

Bafana held the upper hand for most of a fast flowing opening

half watched by an enthusiastic vuvuzelas blowing near capacity

crowed of 38 000 that created an intimidating and lively atmosphere

throughout the 90 minutes.

The home side took the initiative against the Eastern Europeans

who looked set to sit back and soak up the pressure. The Bulgarians

were physically bigger and stronger than Bafana but it was the home

side who finished stronger.

The pitch looked in reasonable condition after the rugby Super

14 semifinal clash between the Blue Bulls and New Zealand

Crusaders played here on Saturday night.

Bafana striker Katlego Mphela tested the shaky looking Bulgarian

keeper Nikolay Mihaylov with a rasping free kick in the 11th minute

that the Bulgarian number one managed to turn for a corner.

Two minutes later Mihaylov struggled with a well directed free

kick from livewire winger Siphiwe Tshabalala that he somehow

managed to scramble to safety after parrying the Bafana winger's

fierce shot.

Then Bafana captain Teko Modise tried his luck and again

Mihaylov managed to block the Orlando Pirates playmaker's shot in

the 16th minute.

This was one of Modise's best matches for his county. He led by

example and controlled the midfield with authority. So well had Modise played and led the

side that he kept the captain's armband when regular skipper Aaron

Mokoena replaced Sangweni at halftime. However, Modise was

surprisingly replaced in the 69th minute by striker Bernard Parker

who slotted into Modise's midfield role.

Bafana were rewarded for their pressure when 20-year-old

Siyabonga Sangweni headed home Tshabalala's free kick in the 20th

minute that had the fans bouncing with joy.

It was the tall central defender's first goal for his country.

He has come on in leaps and bounds under national head coach

Parreira. The goal virtually sealed the Golden Arrows budding stars

place in Parreira's final squad of 23, which will be named on June

1.

But the goal sparked the 39th ranked Bulgarians into action.

Bafana keeper Itumeleng Khune was called into action for the first

time in the 24th minute when he dealt confidently with a shot from

Ivelin Popov.

Then Valari Bojinov sent a screamer that skidded fractionally

wide of the Bafana upright in the 29th minute.

Bafana paid for their over confidence and poor defending, which

allowed Parma striker Bojinov to get behind the home defence and

beat Khune from close range to make it 1-1 in the 31st minute.

Bafana came back strongly after the setback, holding midfielder

Thanduyise Khuboni shot over the crossbar on 36th minutes. Three

minutes later Mihaylov failed to hold a low hard shot from Reneilwe

Letsholonyane. But Bulgaria were lucky as there was no Bafana

played on hand to slam home the loose ball.

Then both Lucas Thwala and Tshabalala fired over the upright in

the 42 and 45th minutes respectively as the home side pushed hard

for a second goal.

Bafana right back Siboniso Gaxa started getting his range and

crosses accurately into the Bulgarian penalty area in the second

half and caused a few problems for the visiting defenders.

Bafana lost their way midway through the second half by allowing

the Eastern Europeans back into the game.

Fulham midfielder

anchorman Kagisho Dikgacoi who replaced the fiery Letsholonyane at

halftime struggled with his timing and did not look 100 percent

match fit. But this is exactly what these friendly matches are

intended for to get the players fit and battle hardened ahead of

the World Cup.

Bafana pushed hard for the winner in the late stages of the

second half where the Bulgarians looked to be tiring. But to their

credit Bulgaria never gave up held on for the draw against a more

determined and hungrier opponent.