Michal Sadilek scored an early goal to give Czechia the advantage, having come into the starting line-up as one of five changes from its opening match and making an instant impression in Atlanta.

But Mokoena scored from the spot with seven minutes remaining after Czechia substitute Pavel Sulc was penalised for a handball as he attempted to block a shot from Thapelo Maseko.

South Africa would have been on the brink of elimination had Czechia held on for victory, but the two sides are now level on one point each after two matches in the tournament, with the outcome of Group A set to go the distance.

Czechia made a fast start, and Patrik Schick had already wasted a golden opportunity before their sixth-minute opener, which came after impressive work from Adam Hlozek, another of the players brought into the team by veteran coach Miroslav Koubek.

Hlozek displayed clever movement from a long throw-in to burst through down the right, and his cut-back led to a superb first-time pass from Alexandr Sojka, setting up a low left-footed finish from Sadilek.

South Africa began to gain a foothold in the match, and a deflected effort from Oswin Appollis was only narrowly off target, while Iqraam Rayners and Maseko were both unable to fully capitalise on two presentable openings.

Vladimir Darida, Lukas Cerv and Schick all threatened as Czechia looked to replicate their fast start when the second period began, but the result was still hanging in the balance as the match moved into its closing stages.

Matej Kovar made the most comfortable save from substitute Evidence Makgopa as South Africa finally registered its first attempt on target in the 74th minute.

But Kovar was then powerless to deny Mokoena, who calmly kept his nerve to send the Czechia goalkeeper the wrong way from 12 yards.

Buoyed by its equaliser, it was South Africa who had the best chances in the final moments, with Relebohile Mofokeng and Makgopa almost grabbing an unlikely victory for Bafana Bafana.