Bafana Bafana battled back to draw 1-1 with Angola in their final encounter of the year on Sunday afternoon.
Siyanda Xulu, Luke Le Roux, Fagrie Lakay and Kgaogelo Sekgota were granted starts by coach Hugo Broos, who dropped the two-goal hero against Mozambique Bongokuhle Hlongwane to the bench.
The Palancas Negras were more decisive in the last third and broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when Ambrosini Salvador popped up in the area and headed home a pin-point corner-kick.
Sekgota though very nearly drew the host back on level terms minutes later with a thumping shot from a tight angle around the six-yard area, but Marques repelled.
The Kaizer Chiefs man continued to cause problems and drew a foul to win a penalty following a clip in the area by Salvador around the half-hour mark, and Zakhele Lepasa converted and made it 1-1.
There was a bit of bad news at the end of the half, as Xulu was stretchered off and replaced by Mamelodi Sundowns defender Grant Kekana.
Bafana showed a lot more purpose at the start of the second half and pinned the Palancas Negras in their own half through the off-the-ball runs by Themba Zwane, Lakay and Sekgota.
Angola, though, were closest to regain the lead midway inside the second stanza when a first-time shot in the box by Pedro Miguel worked a sound reaction save from Ronwen Williams.
The Palancas Negras pulled further again in the closing minutes after Miguel Vieira sold one challenge on the shoulder of the area to bring Williams to action with a threatening shot.
Bafana enjoyed a few moments in the last third with substitutes Monnapule Saleng, Khanyisa Mayo and Hlongwane but neither proved accurate and it finished 1-1.
Confirmed line-ups:
South Africa: Williams, Mobbie, Xulu, De Reuck, Modiba, Mokoena, Le Roux, Zwane, Lakay, Sekgota, Lepasa
Subs: Buthelezi, Kekana, Saleng, Hlongwane, Mothwa, Timm, Mayo, Aubaas, Blom
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