Match winner (AFP)

Johannesburg -  Bafana Bafana played out of their skins and at the end of the night can consider themselves unlucky to go down 1-0 to a Brazil side that were made to look ordinary at times.

It took an 87th minute free kick from Brazil substitute Daniel Alves to earn the Confederation Cup holders their win in a closely fought semifinal showdown over a brave Bafana at a packed Coca Cola Park on Thursday night.

Bafana were that close to another big upset. The United States managed a two goal win over European champions Spain on Wednesday night.

But the hosts won the hearts of the nation and the capacity crowd. It was Bafana's best display in years and certainly their best under head coach Joel Santana.

The fact that Bafana star Steven Pienaar was named Man of the Match shows how well the team played against a glittering array of Brazilian superstars which included Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano.

Brazil had destroyed the United States 3-0 and world champions Italy 3-0 on their road to the semifinals but this was by far their toughest match in the Confederations Cup.

Brazil play the United States at Coca Cola Park in the final on Sunday night (8.30pm) while Bafana meet Spain in the playoff for third place at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday at 3pm.

The 48  000 strong crowd added to the excitement by cheering every Bafana tackle and Bafana more than held their own in an exciting first half in which the home crowd were watching at times in disbelief as Teko Modise, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Pienaar bossed the midfield against the likes of Kaka, Robinho and Ramires.

Both Bafana full backs Siboniso Gaxa on the right and Tsepo Masilela on the left  troubled Brazil with their over lapping runs.

But what was outstanding was Bafana's tight marking and solid defending where central defenders Aaron Mokoena and Matthew Booth gave nothing away against a much more experienced attack.

In fact the best shot of the first half came from a Pienaar scorcher in the 43rd minute that shaved the paint of the Brazil post.

Bright future

Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune again showed he is going to be the number one choice for years to come with excellent stops in the first 45 minutes.

Khune did well to stop Ramires opening the scoring in the 12th minute. Bafana hit back a minute later when Gaxa rounded Brazil left back Andre Santos and unleashed a powerful drive that just missed the target.

Brazil had another escape when Bafana skipper Mokoena headed a Modise free kick fractionally wide of the crossbar on 21 minutes.

Brazil keeper Julio Cesar showed his class when he did well to fist away a well taken Tshabalala free kick from 25 metres in the 34th minute as the home side took the game to their more fancied opponents.

Three minutes later new Real Madrid signing and the Brazilian superstar Kaka rounded both Gaxa and Mokoena and inched a powerful shot past the upright.

Kaka again showed why he is one, if not the best player in world soccer, when he collected the ball inside his own half and raced for goal only to be denied by Khune who did well to save the Brazilian's shot at the near post three minutes from the break.

A minute later Pienaar's pile driver shaved the post as the home side refused to be intimidated or overawed in an evenly fought opening half.

Julio Cesar pulled off the save of the night from a 20 metre thunderbolt that had the crowd off the feet in the 57th minute as Bafana took the initiative.

Mokoena led by example when he time and again put his body on the line. He saved a certain goal when he threw himself at a Robinho's rocket from inside the Bafana penalty area in the 75th minute that the crowd loved.

But a mistake by Mokoena earned Brazil a free kick on the edge of the area in the 87th minute. Alves who had just come on scored the only goal with a wicked curling free kick that gave Khune no chance.