Classic Times Fantasy Football is back. Sign up for £3 a team or 3 for £6

Australia warmed up for their World Cup qualifying game against Uzbekistan in Tashkent next month by drawing 2-2 with the 2010 hosts in a friendly at Loftus Road on Tuesday night in front of a crowd of about 10,000.

It was an encouraging performance in West London from South Africa, who have looked poor in recent matches. They were the better side in the second half against an under-strength Socceroo line-up. The match marked a return to the team for Benni McCarthy, the Blackburn Rovers striker, who has had a strained relationship with the national federation. He was at the heart of most of South Africa’s attacks.

Siyabonga Nkosi opened the scoring for South Africa after 21 minutes with a drilled low finish to cap a well-worked move but Australia replied only four minutes later. Mile Sterjovski collected a long ball and hooked it over the oncoming goalkeeper to equalise. Joshua Kennedy punished poor defending to head in a free kick from close range eight minutes before half time.

Now there are TWO ways to feed your fantasy

We have built on last year's success of PlayTheGame by offering fantasy football managers double the fun this coming season

Related Links

• Capello puts new stamp on same captain

• Terry ready to lead England from back again

MacBeth Sibaya almost drew South Africa level via a 40-yard drive after 54 minutes but his shot thundered narrowly over. It did not matter as Bafana Bafana scored soon afterwards with a fabulous, fierce strike by Teko Modise that zipped into the top corner of Mark Schwarzer’s net to prompt lively celebrations from fans in the aptly-named South Africa Road Stand.

Officials from the South African government are due to provide an update in Beijing on Thursday regarding the country’s readiness for hosting the 2010 World Cup. Last week, the hosts admitted that the tournament’s infrastructure would cost at least two billion rand (£139 million) more than the original R9.6 billion (£665 million) estimate.

Explore International Football

• Euro 2008