The battling British and Irish Lions produced a storming first Test fightback - but it was a case of too little too late as South Africa won 26-21.
The Lions trailed 26-7 with 12 minutes left, only for converted tries by flanker Tom Croft - his second of the game - and halfback Mike Phillips to set up a thrilling finale.
While the Lions now have a mountain of Everest proportions to climb with both remaining Tests at altitude in Pretoria and Johannesburg, their late revival must give them hope they can turn the series around.
For the first hour, the Lions had been battered and bullied by an awesome display of power rugby. Prop Tendai 'The Beast' Mtawarira set the tone, scrummaging Lions tighthead and England World Cup winner Phil Vickery into such an unrecognisable state that he was substituted after 45 minutes.
Despite Lions fans turning the ABSA Stadium into a sea of red alongside the Indian Ocean as pre-match temperatures nudged 80 degrees, it was South Africa who turned up the heat.
For an hour, the Lions could not handle a Springboks side whose proud rugby tradition was scarred by the ignominy of a home Test series defeat 12 years ago. Unlike on that occasion though, the Lions had no Martin Johnson, Keith Wood or Jeremy Guscott to stem the Springboks' tide.
Their first defeat in seven games on tour had effectively been signed, sealed and delivered during the first 60 minutes.
But South Africa was in panic mode by the end after coach Peter de Villiers used all seven substitutes, with skipper John Smit making a questionable return in the closing stages, replacing Deon Carstens, who did not appear to be injured.
Smit and debutant flanker Heinrich Brussow touched down for the Springboks, with first five-eighth Ruan Pienaar kicking 13 points and fullback Francois Steyn booting a penalty.
The Lions though, ultimately exposed enough creaks in the Springboks' armoury to suggest the series is far from dead, and they might have triumphed had one try not been disallowed and another ruled out by video referee Christophe Berdos.
South Africa 26
Tries: Smit, Brussow
Conversions: Pienaar 2
Penalties: Pienaar 3, Steyn
British and Irish Lions 21
Tries: Croft 2, Phillips
Conversions: Jones 3