Boyd strike sinks South Africa

Any lingering doubts over Kris Boyd's goalscoring ability were banished when the Scotland striker claimed the only goal of the game in the 1-0 friendly victory over South Africa at Pittodrie.

A lacklustre start to the season by the Rangers forward was well-documented before he ended his mini goal-famine during last week's 7-2 win over Falkirk. And Boyd answered his critics yet again when he bounded off the bench to provide one of the few highlights of an otherwise drab match.

His 71st-minute goal earned the Scots their first friendly win on home soil since the 4-1 victory against Trinidad & Tobago at Easter Road in 2004 - and provides a confidence boost for next month's Euro 2008 qualifying double-header against Lithuania and France.

McLeish rested experienced campaigners such as Barry Ferguson, Lee McCulloch, David Weir, Paul Hartley and Gary Naysmith, while Derby's Jay McEveley earned his first cap at left-back and Alan Hutton made his first start for Scotland on the other flank.

However, it was was Carlos Alberto Parreira's men who threatened first. Sibusiso Zuma forced Russell Anderson to surrender possession on the edge of the box, allowing the loose ball to be collected by Siyabonga Nkosi - only for the Arminia Bielefeld man to screw wide of the upright.

A well-placed cross from Bradley Carnell was floated on to Nomvethe, who bulleted a powerful header inches over the bar. Craig Gordon was then called into action to paw an angled drive from the forward to safety.

The Scots could have snatched the opener before the break but McFadden's 25-yard free-kick did not trouble Rowen Fernandez in the South Africa goal, fizzing well over the bar. It was McFadden's last contribution to the match before being replaced by Stephen Pearson at half-time.

The second half also began in uninspiring fashion. Scott Brown failed to deal with an Nkosi cross - allowing Delron Buckley a crack at goal - but Anderson was well-placed to block.

A flurry of substitutions followed and Boyd grabbed the opener after just three minutes on the pitch. Stand-in captain Darren Fletcher put the ball over the top of the South Africa defence, and it was gratefully pounced upon by Boyd who rifled into the top corner with 71 minutes gone.

Barry Robson then proved worthy of his first cap when a timely intervention on the line prevented Thembinkosi Fanteni's header from nestling in the back of the net.