But a brilliant injury time goal by super sub Siphiwe Tshabalala lit up

this Nelson Mandela Challenge and earned Bafana a deserved 2-1 win over

a stubborn Norway on Saturday.

But the biggest smile came from Bafana head coach Joel Santana after

the game. And he had every reason to smile knowing his team outplayed

Norway who recently scored a 1-0 away win over Germany.

Norway were out on their feet at the end but to their credit they

showed their experience and guts to hold on until the last minute of

injury time to the more skilful side who were roared on by a crowd of

25 000 at the new-look stadium.

Bafana showed a big improvement from their 2-0 defeat in Polokwane at

the hands of Chile last month. But to be fair Norway are not nearly as

skilful or as fast or as good as the Chilean side.

But Bafana showed that they do not need truant Benni McCarthy. In

Bernard Parker who scored the opening goal they have a successor to the

controversial Blackburn Rovers striker.

But for Santana this match showed more positives than negatives. And

the team dashed form Rustenburg to the OR Tambo Airport where they

leave on Saturday night for Switzerland where they meet Portugal on

Tuesday night.

Said Santana: "We are going to enjoy our flight and savour this big win

for us."

Bafana had the better of an entertaining first half. But a bad lapse in

concentration allowed Norway to change over 1-1 at halftime.

What was encouraging for Bafana head coach Joel Santana was the way

that Teko Modise and Steven Pienaar worked together in midfield where

they controlled the match.

Also outstanding for Bafana were the two full backs, Siboniso Gaxa and

left back Tsepo Masilela who tied the Norway defence in knots and every

time they got the chance pumped in some high crosses.

Striker Mabhuti Khenyeza missed a cross from Masilela in the second

minute as Bafana made their intentions clear that attack would be the

name of this game and they would try and wear down the Scandinavians in

the searing 30 off degree heat.

Norway keeper Jon Knudsen did well to prevent Macbeth Sibaya opening

the score from a well stuck effort in the third minute.

Bafana got their deserved breakthrough thanks to some outstanding work

by Mamelodi Sundowns defender Gaxa who fought like a tiger, won the

ball on the byline and found Parker and the Serbian based striker

slammed home from close range after seven minutes.

Then Pienaar hit a screamer over the Norway crossbar 10 minutes later

after Sibaya set up the Everton star. Pienaar class and Modise's skill

shone and Norway struggled to contain the two midfield livewires.

Knudson then pulled off a fine save from Ajax Cape Towns leading goal

scorer Khenyeza on 21 minutes as Bafana looked for the second goal.

But it was Norway who scored against the run of play when the Blackburn

Rovers winger Morten Gamst Pedersen beat the Bafana defence and left

goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune rooted to the spot with a 20 metre free

kick.

Khune never saw the ball as it sailed past him.

Knudson pulled off the save off the match when he diverted a stunning

Modise free kick for a corner in the 35th minute.

Bafana continued pushing after the break and once again the overworked

Knudsen denied Modise a goal with a timey save in the 47th minute.

But a tremendous tackle by Bafana's giant central defender Matthew

Booth on centre forward Mohammed Abdellaoue forced the Valerenga

striker to shoot wide when he was stream for goal in the 52nd minute.

Khenyeza missed another great chance when he failed to connect a Gaxa

cross in the 61st minute.

The crowd cheered when Kaizer Chiefs star Siphiwe Tshabalala replaced

Khenyeza in the 69th minute. Although he is banging in goals for his

club Khenyeza appears to freeze when playing for his country.

Tshabalala was an inspired change. His last gasp goal hit the roof of

the net and had the crowd celebrating a well earned win.