Rising star Teko Modise scored twice late in the first half as South Africa beat Canada 2-0 in a friendly international on Tuesday.
The Orlando Pirates midfielder curled the ball into the roof of the net after 39 minutes and added a stoppage-time penalty after captain Paul Stalteri fouled Thembinkosi "Terror" Fanteni.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Stalteri was sent off 11 minutes from full-time by the Malawian referee after a second caution at a warm and humid Absa Stadium in the Indian Ocean city.
PHOTO: EPA
It was the first win by 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa this year against non-African opposition after holding Uruguay and losing to Bolivia, Scotland, Italy and the US.
The sight of the ball hitting the net twice was especially pleasant for Bafana Bafana ("The Boys") coach Carlos Parreira from Brazil after his team managed just three goals in their previous eight matches.
And success was achieved with a virtual B team including only two of the Europe-based contingent, goalkeeper Rowan Fernandez and midfielder Lance Davids.
Canada, ranked 32 places above South Africa in the world, failed to score for the first time in 10 matches this year as they suffered only their third loss.
South Africa were quick out of the blocks and came close to scoring before Modise broke the deadlock with a shot from outside the penalty area that gave Lars Hirschfeld no chance.
And after a long delay as Stalteri protested his innocence over a collision with Fanteni, the goalkeeper dived the wrong way while Modise tucked the ball into the other corner.
Bafana Bafana continued to press in the second half and Hirschfeld reacted quickly to push away a Davids drive while Julian de Guzman tested Fernandez in a rare Canadian attack.
Fernandez did well to foil veteran Canadian Tomas Radzinski, sticking out his left foot to prevent a goal after the Greece-based midfielder burst through.
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