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South African midfielder Steven Pienaar(L) is challenged by Colombia's Jackson Martinez during their friendly football match at Soccer City Stadium in Soweto. South Africa won 2-1.

South Africa extended an unbeaten run to nine games since Carlos Alberto Parreira returned as coach last November with a 2-1 victory over Colombia on Thursday in a tense World Cup warm-up.

The host nation played better football when drawing with Bulgaria three days ago, but the sell-out 75,000 crowd at Soccer City did not care as they celebrated a winning start at the rebuilt stadium.

Midfielder Teko Modise and striker Katlego Mphela converted the South African spot kicks and Giovanni Moreno was on target from the spot for non-qualifers Colombia.

Parreira introduced controversial striker Benni McCarthy, who has been under fire from local media who claim he is overweight, midway through the second half but he had no chance to add to a record 32-goal international haul.

A first half lacking rhythm finished 1-1 with Modise converting his penalty at the second attempt on 18 minutes and Giovanni Moreno levelling from another spot kick just three minutes later.

But South Africa were lucky to be level with Colombia opening yawning gaps at times in a defence struggling to contain the 'Coffee Growers' despite the presence of foreign-based Aaron Mokoena and Tsepo Masilela.

It was the first time since Parreira had all 30 players on call that he did not start with an all-local line-up and they were not at all impressive despite passionate backing on a dry, cool night.

Even the goal that put them ahead was controversial with the Kenyan match official claiming goalkeeper David Ospina moved forward before saving a weak effort from Modise.

Big-screen replays exposed the decision to have the kick retaken as harsh, but Modise kept calm and made no mistake at the second attempt, sending the France-based custodian the wrong way.

It took Colombia, who have failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cup tournaments since 1998, just three minutes to restore equality as Khune, injured in an early collision with Jackson Martinez, fouled Adrian Ramos.

This time there was no need to check the big screen as Moreno stepped up to fire the ball wide of Khune into the corner of the net and the visitors had deservedly restored equality.

Substitute Jhon Valencia should have done better from a free kick just outside the penalty area as he fired well wide of the right post after a seemingly endless delay before the set piece was executed.

Masilela rescued South Africa in the first minute of stoppage time by blocking a shot from Martinez as Colombia looked much more dangerous than Bafana Bafana (The Boys) when pushing forward.

Parreira changed goalkeepers for the second half with Moeneeb Joseph coming on and both central midfielders were also replaced with Kagisho Dikgacoi and Everton Player of the Season Steven Pienaar entering.

Yet another penalty, awarded for a foul on Siphiwe Tshabalala by Valencia, put South Africa ahead again on 58 minutes as previously quiet Katlego Mphela sent Ospina the wrong way.

Lowly Central Americans Guatemala are next up for South Africa on May 31 in the northern city of Polokwane followed by a final warm-up against fellow World Cup qualifiers Denmark - 2-0 winners over Senegal on Thursday in Denmark - on June 5 at Atteridgeville near Pretoria.