Radebe played his final game for South Africa
After conceding a goal within 36 seconds of kick-off, South Africa's World Cup bid party looked a potential calamitous flop.
But by the end of Thursday's friendly international against England, defeat on the pitch was hailed as a victory off it.
The 2-1 loss in Durban was the first home defeat in 16 matches and almost three years for Bafana Bafana, but there was a sense of achievement off the field in the 2010 World Cup bidding process.
The international interest in the match received TV coverage across 100 countries worldwide.
And it presented South Africa with the opportunity to show off its infrastructure and facilities and score publicity points in their battle with Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia - the other five African countries bidding for 2010.
South Africa's media on Friday morning pronounced the match a success, with Johannesburg's Star newspaper proclaiming in banner headlines "Bring on 2010".
"It was our chance to show off," said Danny Jordaan, World Cup bid company chief executive officer.
And there was a sense of relief afterwards when the game, watched by a capacity crowd of 52,000, passed off without major incident.
"
I have really enjoyed my time with Bafana Bafana
"
Lucas Radebe
Certainly the public relations off the field, spearheaded by David Beckham and Nelson Mandela, overshadowed the football, which was promising in the first half but faded away into an exhibition match in the second.
The match also marked the end of an 11-year international career for South African captain Lucas Radebe, who was playing his 70th and last international.
"I will be playing one more season at club level, but my knees can not hold up another year of international football," the Leeds United defender told reporters afterwards.
"I have really enjoyed my time with Bafana Bafana."
Jomo Sono, who took over as Bafana Bafana coach in a messy palace coup at the weekend, also praised his charges, who were put together at short notice.
"We did well in the first half but they took over in the second half. We didn't do too badly," said Sono.
But he criticised the South African Football Association for failing to talk properly to Ephraim Mashaba, the coach who was replaced at the weekend after choosing a squad not to the liking of officials.