A second-half penalty from Benni McCarthy handed South Africa victory in Uganda on Sunday as they got their World Cup qualifying campaign firmly back on track.

South Africa became the first side to win an away match in

Group Two of the African qualifiers with their 1-0 triumph over

hosts Uganda in front of a 60,00-strong crowd.

McCarthy netted in the 63rd minute after left winger Tyren

Arendse had been brought down in the penalty area.

South Africa went one better than their main rivals in the

group, Ghana, who drew in Kampala, and Democratic Republic of

Congo, who lost there in the opening round of matches in June.

"This is a great win. We knew the importance of the game and

of winning all three points and we played good football," said

South Africa's English-born coach Stuart Baxter.

South Africa had lost two out of four Group Two matches

before Sunday and were under some pressure going into the game.

They are now top with nine points ahead of Ghana and

Democratic Republic of Congo who have seven points from four

games and meet in Kumasi later on Sunday.

McCarthy almost got a second goal for the South Africans in

stoppage time but his close-range shot hit an upright.

Sibusiso Zuma earlier had several chances for a strong South

Africa side propelled from midfield by Manchester United's

Quinton Fortune despite his lack of match fitness on returning

to the national team after an absence of more than two years.

Uganda created few chances, their final touch letting them

down when they got into attacking positions, adn they remain

bottom of the six-team group.