Banyana Banyana graft hard to swoop past Lesotho with a 1-0 win in their women's international friendly at the UJ Soweto Campus on Saturday.
A Nobahle Mdelwa spot kick separated the two sides in the first of two friendlies, with the second set for Tuesday at the same venue.
Coming into the match, Banyana have had the better of the two sides in previous meetings, with their last clash ending with South Africa walking away with a commanding 3-0 win in 2020.
In what was a battle of the future stars, both teams fielded teams filled with youngsters, with South Africa having one eye on developing and adding options into their Women's Africa Cup of Nations team later this year in Morocco.
Desiree Ellis was vocal about needing a performance from her selected squad leading up to the contest, despite a lot of them lacking in experience, and her young guns duly delivered.
Both teams exchanged blows in the opening parts of the first half and with little to no spaces available, Katlego Malebane carried the most threat and she had the vision with her attempted defence splitting passes, but the visitors hunted as a pack and were also compact in defense.
Once a ball girl, now an integral part of this two-legged affair between the two sides and a high prospect for the future, the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder struck Banyana into the front foot with just six minutes on the board with her well taken short, missing the crossbar by a whisker.
The 16-year-old dictated terms in the midfield with tight spaces on offer as the visitors gave nothing away.
Her shot from close to the halfway point of the field almost caught keeper Nahakhanane Makibinyane napping on a half-volley but with eyes on the prize, Mavis Maiacane was there to pounce on the opportunity but she agonizingly missed with the visitors clearing their lines just in time.
Dineo Magagula had a quiet first half but she was called into action late in the half with Reitumetse Nahane missing what was the best chance of the half for the visitors wide of the upright.
Banyana had the control of proceedings but to have an impact in the second half, the need to find more spaces to avoid taking shots from range was growing increasingly.
Khwezi Khoza replaced the lively Maiacane in the resumption of the match.
The Durban City ladies FC forward stepped up when it mattered most and she had the most telling moment in the match as her quick thinking got her to steal the ball from Nantiti Tlholoane in a dangerous area.
The 15-year-old proceeded to powerfully drive into the box before she was tripped inside the 18-yard box by Tlholoane, handing Banyana a golden chance to start the second half on a positive note.
Mdelwa stepped up and her clinical finish from the spot gave Ellis and her troops a deserved lead in the 50th minute, which turned out to be enough to secure the win for the home side.
A bigger goal awaits in a couple of months as Banyana will be out to defend their honor when they go in defence of their Women's Africa Cup of Nations crown.
That will take place in the same country they created history by winning their maiden tournament in 2022 and it will be such wins that get them well on their way into defending their crown.