Republic beat World Cup hosts South Africa
Liam Lawrence loops his free-kick over the wall for the only goal of the game
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Liam Lawrence's curling free-kick gave the Republic of Ireland a 1-0 friendly win over South Africa.
The Stoke midfielder whipped the ball into the top corner after Hull's Caleb Folan had been brought down on the edge of the box.
South Africa dominated possession in the first half but failed to make it count and faded out of the game after Lawrence's goal ten minutes before half-time.
Giovanni Trapattoni took a look at the depth of his squad by retaining only three players from the team that beat Cyprus in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday, handing starts to fringe players such as Lawrence, Darron Gibson, Andy Keogh and Folan.
Next year's World Cup hosts named Portsmouth's Aaron Mokeona and Everton's Steven Piennar in the side as they looked to recover from a 2-0 friendly defeat to Germany at the weekend.
Piennar was instrumental in South Africa's early possession and laid on a pass for Katlego Mphela to shoot from just inside the box but his effort flew high and wide.
The Republic were unlucky not to get a penalty soon after when Folan was blocked by Morgan Gould in the box, with both players requiring treatment as a result of the clash.
South Africa continued to string neat passing moves together and were awarded a free-kick 20 yards out. Piennar stepped up to take it and flashed a dipping shot just over Kieren Westwood's bar.
South Africa's next chance came soon after with the game being played in the Irish half. Siboniso Gaxa curled an inviting cross into the box and Paul McShane almost turned the ball into his own net.
With Folan returning to the pitch the Republic began to retain possession much more effectively, however, the South Africans soon reasserted their superiority, constructing a patience passing move which almost allowed Piennar to play Mphela through, although McShane did enough to stop him.
It was the Republic who took the lead ten minutes before the break though, thanks to a curling free-kick from Lawrence which flew into the top corner.
South Africa could have equalised on half-time when Tsepo Masilela was played in down the left, however the Maccabi Haifa left-back elected to shoot into the side netting when Mphela was free in the box.
Neither team took charge at the start of the second half with players on both sides guilty of giving possession away cheaply.
Manchester United midfielder Gibson struggled to make an impression in the centre of the Irish formation but he unleashed a dangerous strike from 25 yards that flew just wide of Rowan Fernandez's left-hand post.
Folan was proving a handful for the South African centre backs, and Lawrence was unlucky not to score his second after substitute Liam Best's shot was parried by Fernandez.
South Africa began to find their way into the second half with 20 minutes left and substitute Siphiwe Tshabalala should have equalised from Gaxa's cross but skewed his volley wide.
Tshabalala almost made up for his miss when he played the ball into the box for Piennar to shoot, however the Everton mans shot was well blocked by Preston North End's Sean St Ledger.
South Africa continued to probe with patient build up and incisive passing but a combination of stout Irish defending and a lack of composure prevented them from creating a clear-cut chance.
Folan had the chance to seal Ireland's win with nine minutes remaining, however he miss-timed his jump and headed Lawrence's cross wide.
The impressive Best also threatened to score late on with a thunderous drive from the edge of the box which was deflected to safety by Gould, before receiving the ball on the edge of the box a turning sharply to shoot just wide.