Persevering at the high altitude of Ellis Park in Johannesburg, the US weathered a resilient second half attack from South Africa to hold on to a 1-0 win over the 2010 World Cup hosts.

After making credible inroads into the South African defensive territory in the first half, Hannover 96 fullback Steve Cherundolo belted home his first goal since scoring a 60-yard bouncing consolation effort in a 4-2 loss against Germany back in 2006.

Despite head coach Bob Bradley having used all of his available substitutions, the Americans became sapped of energy as the match wore on, doing just enough to prevent live-wire striker Sibusiso Zuma from hitting the mark.

The hosts looked to prove a point early on, with on-loan Everton star Steven Pienaar forcing Oguchi Onyewu into an early corner in the second minute, from which the ball would be sent into the area, with Benny Feilhaber clearing the wide-ball out of the area.

As both teams tried to test each other's boundaries, long balls, driven from end to end, were preferred over subtle passing.

In the eighth minute, created the first real chance of the match, as Pienaar found himself played into space down the right. The former Ajax starlet sidestepped a sprawled Carlos Bocanegra, only to loft his final ball well over the lot of onrushing attackers.

Just two minutes later, the US tried a reply, with Freddy Adu crossing from the right after making a cheeky side-step to fake the defender. The ball, intended for striker-convert Clint Dempsey, had promise, but was headed out of danger by Blackburn Rovers handyman Aaron Mokoena.

From there on, Bradley's US wrestled control of the tempo and possession away and began to retain the ball with a greater sense of purpose.

South Africa, on the other hand, continued to play long balls in hope of an effective counter, with star striker Benny McCarthy even dropping back into midfield to defend.

In the 15th minute, Maurice Edu gave the first taste of his presence by sending a slick through ball to DaMarcus Beasley, although the Rangers winger was adjudged to be offside. Just four minute late, Cherundolo played Dempsey in following a gallant run down the right, though the Fulham man's poor footing would compromise the attack.

It would be Cherundolo, who became a credible threat as he ventured forward, who would change the scoreline. In the 27th minute, a surging Edu run caught the defense napping, before the MLS Rookie of the Year sent a smooth ball into the path of Cherundolo. The veteran '96er let rip from the right of goal, with the ball hurling over keeper Rowen Fernandez for the 1-0.

As often happens, the moments following a score tend to be the most defensively fragile, with Bafana Bafana rallying on the attack just two minutes later, one halted through an acrobatic overhead clearance by defensive hulk Onyewu.

MacBeth Sibaya was a thorn in the US attack, obstructing passing and breaking down play, which forced the US into playing diagonal balls.

The next credible attack would arrive through Beasley in the 35th minute, with the Rangers winger being finely picked out in space on the left, before taking the ball on the half volley that forced Fernandez into a reflex save. Moments afterward, Beasley picked out Bocanegra at the far post, but he could do no more than blast high from just yards out.

Right at the end of the first half, Adu bolted towards goal, but his final ball, from a tight angle, sailed well wide of the mark with a dismayed Beasley free in space in front of goal.

Bradley chose to shake up the defense, with three changes at the half; Jonathan Spector and Danny Califf entering for Cherundolo and Bocanegra, respectively, and MLS Keeper of the Year Brad Guzan deputizing for Tim Howard.

With the changes rung, the Americans looked to impose themselves further with Dempsey on a 48th minute breakaway. The Fulham attacker nearly carved out a one-on-one with Fernandez,  but after tapping the ball up, the Arminia Bielefeld netminder was able to quickly intervene.

Some defensive disarray allowed Teko Modise to shake free at the far post, but his header went wide of the mark, with Guzan asking questions of his defense.

South Africa started to galvanize, with Borussia Dortmund winger Delron Buckley starting to use his pace to cause problems, linking up well with Zuma in attack.

In the 58th minute, Zuma surged for a one-on-one with Onyewu, although a timely backtrack from Califf halted progress.

Neither side was firmly established in rhythm, although Bafana Bafana began using its pace to cause problems.

Zuma, in 60th minute, made ripples once more, taking advantage of a Heath Pearce slip; although passing-target Modise was beaten to the ball by a an instinctive Spector.

With the Stars and Stripes bunkering down, Zuma played setup man for a blistering Sibaya shot in the 67th minute, before creating an opening for McCarthy, who went down under pressure from Edu, with penalty claims waved away by referee Eddie Maillet.

Modise would be left with an 80th minute half chance, shot high before embroiling in a bit of controversy as an intended cross seemed to deflect off Feilhaber's arm in the box, with the referee once again silencing the indignant mob of Bafana Bafana stars.

It would be one of the Derby midfielder's final touches of the ball, before being replaced by Chivas USA left back Jonathan Bornstein, and would stand as a penultimate chance of the match.

Time would run out with the US still on top of the scoreboards, debutante Josmer Altidore finally getting time on the ball, as the Americans looked to run the clock out in the corner.

Scoring
USA - Steve Cherundolo (Maurice Edu) 27'

Line-ups
USA - Tim Howard (Brad Guzan 46'); Heath Pearce, Carlos Bocanegra (Danny Califf 46'), Oguchi Onyewu, Steve Cherundolo (Jonathan Spector 46'), DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber (Jonathan Bornstein 86'), Freddy Adu (Sacha Kljestan 74'), Clint Dempsey (Josmer Altidore 66')

RSA - Rowen Fernandez; Vuyo Mere, Aaron Mokeona, Nasief Morris, Ricardo Katza (Siphiwe Tshabalala 71'), Steven Pienaar, Teko Modise, MacBeth Sibaya, Delron Buckley, Subusiso Zuma, Benni McCarthy