Bafana Bafana were held to a 2-2 by Benni McCarthy’s Kenya who scored a late equaliser to steal a point from Orlando Amstel Arena.
Bafana started with supreme confidence, pressing the Harambee Stars high inside of the their own territory and exposing their technical deficiencies in tight spaces as they struggled to keep possession.
And after nine minutes, the press forced an own goal as Amos Wanjala passed the ball into his own net beyond Bryne Odhiambo to provide the perfect start for Pitso Mosimane’s side who were showing attacking vigour and flair through the outlets of Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis.
They had a couple of half chances to make it 2-0 through Tshepang Moremi but failed to capitalise on their superiority and much like the past of Bafana, they allowed the opposition to grow into the game, and just before the break conceded a penalty.
Thabang Matuludi guilty of handling the ball inside the area, offering Michael Olunga the opportunity to become the all-time record scorer of the Harambee Stars with 35 goals and steered Kenya to 1-1 at the break, leaving Benni McCarthy with plenty to work with for the second half.
Before the hour mark, Mosimane reacted with the first changes from the bench, bringing on Lyle Foster and Puso Dithejane for Iqraam Rayners and Tshepang Moremi.
And it nearly made an immediate impact with Foster shooting narrowly wide from a Dithejane delivery from a swift counter, short after Mofokeng struck the up right with a curling effort inside the area.
The Harambee Stars had chances few and far between in the second half with Bafana once again on the ascendency – looking to take the lead.
And it was Mofokeng who found the goal, with a superb passage of play receiving the ball out wide from Oswin Appollis before dinking it inside the area to Foster who cushioned a cut back for Mofokeng to smash home his third senior international goal.
But just when it looked to be the difference McCarthy’s side found a late equaliser via Ryan Ogam to silence the Arena.
Bafana moved to seven pionts, one above Guinea, while Kenya now sit on two points.