Relebohile Mofokeng was an unused substitute on Tuesday, missing out on a chance to debut in European club competition as his Belgian club Union Saint Gilloise were held to a 3-3 home draw by Bodo/Glimt.
A late goal from Canadian international Promise David, who played against Mofokeng and Bafana Bafana at the World Cup in June, handed Union hope of a comeback win after they had been 2-1 down in the first half in their Champions League third preliminary round tie.
But they let Bodo/Glimt defender Odin Bjørtuft equalise with a simple header from a free kick one minute into stoppage time at the end of the game.
The draw hands the Norwegians a major advantage as they host the return leg in Bodo, north of the Arctic Circle, next Wednesday as the two clubs battle for a place in the Champions League proper.
The winner of the tie meets either NEC Nijmegen from the Netherlands or Greece’s Olympiakos over two legs later this month for a place in the Champions League proper.
Bodo/Glimt pulled off a stunning run in last season’s Champions League and beat teams like Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan and Manchester City, and will be fancied to advance over Union, who would then drop down to the Europa League.
Mofokeng made his first official appearance for his new club last Friday as a second-half substitute and tucked away the decisive penalty as they beat champions Club Brugge away to win the Belgian Super Cup.
He will now be hoping for game time on Saturday when the Belgian league kicks off. Union, who were runners-up last season, start their campaign away at Westerlo.