Baxter was planning to substitute Tau when he scored the equaliser that saved Bafana

Serero combined with Tau to set him clear of the offside trap and allow him to finish with virtually the last kick of the game after Paraguay had led from the 31st minute of the match in wet conditions.

Tau had also set up the equaliser for Bafana in Saturday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Nigeria at FNB Stadium after the home side went behind early in the match.

Baxter kept just four players from Saturday in Tuesday’s starting line-up as he took a gamble on the ability of many inexperienced players and he had planned to make more changes at half-time.

“I wasn’t going to leave Tyson [Thulani Hlatshwayo] on‚ I was going to let him and Buhle [Mkhwanazi] share the game‚ but after Ace [Motjeka Madisha] made the mistake [for the goal] and the crowd got on his back‚ and then he made another mistake‚ I didn’t think it was fair to leave him on.

“I spoke to him at halftime and told him that. He will have many more games‚ but he needs to learn from the mistakes he has made.”

Baxter said many of the Bafana players had “been to school” against Paraguay who were “uncharacteristically aggressive” for a South American side.

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