By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Oswin Appollis (centre) celebrates afte equalising for Bafana Bafana against Panama on Friday evening at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Picture: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix.
South Africa played to a 1-1 draw against Panama in an international friendly at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday evening.
Edgar Bárcenas opened the scoring for Panama in the first half before Oswin Appollis rattled the back in the second half to equal the scoreline.
Although Bafana Bafana started ambitiously, they were stunned by their visitors, who scored in the 11th minute through Barcenas, with Cecilio Waterman providing the assist.
Bafana Bafana kept fighting and came close to scoring on two occasions, but were denied by Panamanian goalkeeper Luis Mejia.
The hosts returned to the second half with vigour and they were duly rewarded for their efforts, with Tshepang Moremi crossing the ball to the far post to find Khuliso Mudau, who headed a cut-back into the path of Appollis, who latched onto the ball and rattled the bottom corner.
The result marks a promising start to this international window for South Africa, who are set to face Mexico in the World Cup opener in June.
The two sides meet again for the second game of this friendly series in Cape Town. This clash will be played at the DHL Stadium on Tuesday, 31 March.