Augustine Mulenga scored a stoppage- time goal to deny Bafana Bafana a first win in East London yesterday and earn Zambia a well-deserved 2-2 draw in an African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier.
In the two previous games Bafana played in East London, they were beaten 1-0 by Zimbabwe in 2003 in the Cosafa Cup and were held to a goalless draw by Angola in a friendly in March.
The South Africans spurned a 2-0 lead in this third-round (final stage before the Kenya 2018) qualifier.
Bafana started brightest at Buffalo City Stadium with Gift Motupa, Ryan Moon and Dumisani Zuma impressive upfront.
They attacked relentlessly in search of an early goal but Chipolopolo captain Ziyo Tembo and his fellow defenders protected goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata well.While SA played combinations, Zambia played more directly, hoping to catch Stuart Baxter's charges on the counterattack.
But their woeful shooting failed to trouble Kaizer Chiefs keeper Bruce Bvuma between the sticks. While Bvuma had a quiet first half, Nsabata was called into action several times with Motupa and Moon forcing saves.
Nsabata, who struggled to deal with crosses, gifted Bafana a goal when he failed to hang on to what should have been a training ground aerial take from a Moon corner.
Motupa headed in from close range in the 39th minute.
Bafana suffered a forced substitution when Wiseman Meyiwa was introduced in the 33rd minute in midfield in place of the injured Sibusiso Kumalo.
Jamie Webber, Jabulani Shongwe and Meyiwa were at times a marvel to watch as they dictated the pace of the game.
Bafana could have doubled their lead on the stroke of half time but Moon was too casual and his shot was blocked...