Bafana hold on to beat Ghana

Johannesburg - Katlego Mphela scored in the 42nd minute to hand South Africa a 1-0 victory over World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.

The first good chance of the game went to Bafana on 14 minutes when Katlego Mphela played through but Ghana keeper Richard Kingson did well with the ball hitting him in the face before going out for a corner.

The goal finally came four minutes before the break. Steven Pienaar played through a fine through-ball and Mphela complied as he connected well to put the hosts in the lead.

It was a well deserved goal as Bafana had been dominating the game up to that point.

Ghana battled the replicate the form that nearly saw them make the semi-finals of the World Cup last month only to be denied by Uruguay in controversial circumstances.

The supporters turned up in great numbers despite the cold Johannesburg weather on the night and remained jovial throughout the game with the constant sound of the vuvuzela buzzing throughout the match.