Bafana Bafana and Nicaragua went into the halftime break with the score level at 0-0 on Friday evening.
Themba Zwane was the only Mamelodi Sundowns player to be included in Hugo Broos' starting line-up, while South Africans fans also got to see United States-based defender Olwethu Makhanya partner Ime Okon in the defence as Mbekile Mbokazi started on the bench.
Broos' charges dominated the possession in the early stages of the encounter as the inclusion of Themba Zwane in the midfield-three aided their creativity without the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis on the pitch.
Nicaragua, meanwhile, were well-marshalled defensively from the onset as they did well to thwart every attempt in and around the 18-yard area, as Tshepang Moremi and Kamogelo Sebelebele struggled to carve out chances on a regular basis down the respective flanks for the opening 30 minutes.
That all changed with three minutes left on the clock when Sebelebele surged into the box before being brought down in the box to earn Bafana a penalty. Lyle Foster took responsibility from 12-yards out but sent his spot-kick against the upright.
South Africa: Goss, Kabini, Makhanya, Okon, Matuludi, Mbatha, Sithole, Zwane, Moremi, Sebelebele, Foster
Subs: Williams, Chaine, Mokoena, Maseko, Appollis, Modiba, Ndamane, Adams, Mofokeng, Sibisi, Makgopa, Mbokazi, Rayners, Cross, Mudau
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Source: Soccer Laduma
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