Wasteful Bafana held at home by Liberia despite Lyle Foster brace

Lyle Foster struck a brace as the hosts cruised to a 2-0 lead inside 23 minutes but Tonia Tisdell pulled one back in the 68th minute before a stunning strike in injury time by Mohammed Sangare secured a point for the visitors.

The draw means Bafana will have to win in Liberia on Tuesday to guarantee themselves a place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

South Africa started the game looking nervy but were given a penalty in the 10th minute when Liberia goalkeeper Tommy Gbayeh Songo clumsily clattered into Percy Tau in the box after misjudging a long ball over the top.

Burnley forward Foster stepped up and made no mistake from the spot and then 10 minutes later darted in the near-post to power in a header from Teboho Mokoena's corner.

The home side should have put the game to bed in the first half as Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Tau missed chances to add their names to the score sheet.

All the wasted opportunities came back to bite Bafana after the interval when Tisdell's innocuous free-kick beat everyone including shot-stopper Ronwen Williams and nestled into the net.

The goal seemed to give Liberia the extra edge heading into the dying stages of the game and Sangare earned his team a point with a fierce left-footed strike that gave Williams no chance.