Niall Quinn took his place in history as the Republic of Ireland clawed their way back from early trouble to achieve a good win at the end of their US Cup programme in the Giants Stadium in New Jersey.
Quinn's long search for the 20th goal to equal Frank Stapleton's Irish record finally ended in the 69th minute. A free kick by Mark Kennedy was aimed at Quinn and the header, perfectly executed, looped away from goalkeeper Andre Arendse for the winner.
"That has to be one of the best moments I've known in football and the fact that it won the game for us, made it that much more special," he said.
South Africa made the brighter start and jumped in front in the 14th minute. Benni McCarthy picked out his team captain, Shaun Bartlett, with the through pass and Bartlett got away from Matt Holland to score from six yards.
Stephen McPhail and Holland struggled to establish a platform in midfield and the end product was a difficult introduction to international football for Tranmere's Alan Mahon before being replaced by Kevin Kilbane before half-time.
It was all of 37 minutes before Ireland seriously threatened the South African net with Dominic Foley heading just over from McPhail's corner.
It was against that background that the equaliser arrived in the 42nd minute. The arc of McPhail's corner from the right took the ball just under the crossbar and goalkeeper Andre Arendse, under pressure from Quinn, could only help it into the net.
After a nervy start, the Irish defence improved with Carr and Terry Phelan doing well at full back and with McPhail and Holland meeting with more reward in the pivotal positions, there was a sharper edge to the second-half performance.
Shay Given, too had reason to be satisfied with his performance on his return to the team and midway through the half, did well to deflect Bartlett's cross shot at the expense of a corner.
Then in the 69th minute came the record-breaking goal. Quinn climbed above Andrew Rabutla to make clean contact with Mark Kennedy's free kick and the looping header easily cleared Arendse for the Sunderland man's 20th international goal.
Republic of Ireland: S Given (Newcastle); S Carr (Tottenham), G Breen (Coventry), P Babb (Liverpool), T Phelan (Fulham); J McAteer (Blackburn), S McPhail (Leeds), M Holland (Ipswich), A Mahon (Tranmere); N Quinn (Sunderland), D Foley (Watford). Subs: K Kilbane (Sunderland) 37 mins for Mahon, M Kennedy (Man City) 44 mins for McAteer, R Keane (Coventry) 45 mins for Foley, G Doherty (Tottenham) 74 mins for Quinn, B Quinn (Coventry) 86 mins for McPhail.
South Africa I Nzama, A Mokoena, J Lekgetho; A Rabutla, D Nguba, Q Fortune, D Buckley; S Bartlett, B McCarthy. Subs: D Sheppard (45 mins) for McCarthy, P Mayo (45 mins) for Ngobe.
Referee: R Badilla (Mexico).
