South Africa beats Colombia 2-1 in first match at World Cup’s Soccer City stadium

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South Africa beats Colombia 2-1

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa marked its first game at the rebuilt Soccer City stadium by defeating Colombia 2-1 in an exhibition Thursday night on penalty-kick goals by Teko Modise and Katlego Mphela.

Before a crowd of 75,000 at the site of the World Cup opener and final, Modise put the hosts ahead in the 18th minute with a retaken kick. David Ospina saved Modise’s initial effort, but was ruled to have moved too early.

Giovanni Moreno tied the score three minutes later with a penalty kick after he was fouled by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune. Mphela sent Ospina the wrong way with a penalty kick in the 58th.

Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar entered at the start of the second half for South Africa after sitting out Monday’s 1-1 tie with Bulgaria at Orlando Stadium. West Ham’s Benni McCarthy, who also didn’t play Monday, came in in the 64th minute.