Australia 2 - 2 South Africa

Australia 2-2 South Africa: Modise strikes equaliser

Updated: August 19, 2008, 8:00 AM UK

South Africa midfielder Teko Modise struck a magnificent equaliser to ensure Tuesday night's friendly at Loftus Road ended in stalemate.

Strikes from Mile Sterjovski and Joshua Kennedy cancelled out Siyabonga Nkosi's opener to give Australia a deserved half-time lead.

• Santana sings McCarthy praises

The Socceroos dominated the first half but were assisted by abysmal South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, whose incompetence helped them to both goals.

But after the interval, when coach Pim Verbeek made a raft of changes, Bafana Bafana assumed control with some enterprising play - crowned by Modise's bullet finish.

Australia approached the match as crucial preparation for the last round of World Cup qualifying and Verbeek gave a large portion of his squad some game time.

Drawn alongside Japan, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Qatar in Group A, they have a great chance of qualifying for 2010 with tonight's game the penultimate friendly before the serious business begins.

Star names Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton were missing, but they still paraded Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and West Ham defender Lucas Neill.

Benni McCarthy was South Africa's main draw and the Blackburn marksman could only watch as his side were forced to weather an early onslaught.

They were reduced to panic stations when McCarthy's club-mate Aaron Mokoena tugged back Scott McDonald on the edge of the area.

McDonald went tumbling down and Mokoena was booked, but Mark Bresciano's free-kick was easily cleared to safety.

Australia were bombarding the opposition box with crosses as they continued to display the greater fluency in attack, but there was little end result.

Sterjovski tried his luck from the edge of the area but his effort was easily blocked by Nasief Morris.

Australia looked in full control as South Africa scrambled to clear another incisive move, but then the 2010 World Cup hosts opened the scoring against the run of play.

McCarthy did the initial damage with a backheel into the box collected by Nkosi, who raced ahead and beat Schwarzer with a neat finish.

But Australia were level four minutes later when Vincenzo Grella's long-ball was gathered by Sterjovski who easily chipped over a stranded and dithering Khune.

Normal service resumed with the Socceroos in control and in the 38th minute they crept into the lead.

Mark Bresciano floated in a simple free-kick which completely bamboozled Khune, giving Kennedy a free header which the Germany-based striker accepted.

South Africa started the second half brightly with Bryce Moon's good work being undone by last-gasp defending from Mark Milligan.

Dean Carney blazed narrowly over at the other end but Bafana Bafana were now dominating and equalised in superb fashion.

McCarthy showed composure to work Moon into space and the Panathinaikos right-back picked out an unmarked Modise, who produced an unstoppable finish.

Santana sings McCarthy praises

South Africa coach Joel Santana has told Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy he has a key role to play until the 2010 World Cup.

McCarthy played his first match for Bafana Bafana since missing a series of the country's African Nations Cup qualifiers during the summer in tonight's 2-2 draw with Australia.

The 30-year-old, who set up the opener for Siyabonga Nkosi at Loftus Road but looked unfit, is South Africa's top marksman and Santana insisted he remains a crucial figure.

'Benni knows how to hold the ball up and doesn't allow defenders to pass. He passes to our midfielders as well,' he said.

'I hope he will be a regular over next two years but football is always a surprise.

'I wanted him for the previous games but that was not possible. We hope he's going to stay with us.'

Santana went on top declare that South Africa's second-half display was just like watching Brazil.

Under-fire Santana witnessed his side dominate after the interval and secure the draw when Teko Modise expertly finished a slick team move.

South Africa produced some enterprising play and Brazilian Santana could not resist a dig at Australia's style.

'South Africa are similar to Brazil in the way they play - my players treat the ball with love and care,' he said.

'That's why we play football. I would never want to play the way Australia play - my players don't have those characteristics.'

Australia coach Pim Verbeek admitted his side's woes after the break were a result of his tinkering with the line-up.

Strikes from Mile Sterjovski and Joshua Kennedy cancelled out Nkosi's opener to give Australia a deserved interval lead but South Africa then assumed control.

'I'm very pleased with this game. Overall I'm very pleased with the performance,' he said.

'I know most of the players and in second half brought in some new ones. We played very well in the first half but we were broken in the second.

'That's normal if you make changes but it's good to see all the players in action.

'My squad needs to be kept fresh at this stage of this season. There are still 11 places up for grabs for our first World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan.'