Korea’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup were left hanging by a thread following a 1-0 defeat to South Africa in their concluding Group A tie.
The defeat meant South Africa – who have never done so before – joined group winners Mexico in advancing automatically while Korea Republic’s fate now depends on whether they can qualify for the next stage as one of the eight best third-placed sides.
The Bafana Bafana, playing at the tournament for the first time since they hosted it in 2010, were widely written off after their 2-0 loss to Group A winners Mexico.
But they battled to a draw against Czechia and came out on top of what was effectively a shootout with Korea, thanks to Thapelo Maseko’s second-half strike.
Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo made a shock call by leaving captain Son Heung-min – considered by many to be Asia’s greatest-ever player – out of the starting line-up.
The East Asian team started strongly, with stand-in captain Kim Min-jae’s powerful header blocked on the goalline by Aubrey Modiba before Lee Kang-in flashed wide.
South Africa quickly settled, playing with hunger and adventure, but their finishing was wasteful.
They seemed certain to take the lead in the 30th minute when the ball fell to Evidence Makgopa after Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu parried Thalente Mbatha’s shot.
But Makgopa could only tamely poke the ball straight at the goalkeeper from close range.
Son came on at the start of the second half, one of three changes made by coach Hong as he sought to change the script.
Early in the second period Maseko squandered another good position while Korea forward Oh Hyeon-gyu tested goalkeeper Ronwen Williams at the other end.
As news filtered through from Mexico City that the host nation were leading against the Czechia, there was an added sense of urgency.
South Africa seized their moment with Tshepang Moremi crossing to Maseko, who this time kept his cool, firing home inside the near post in the 63rd minute.
Korea pushed hard in the closing stages but ran out of time, meaning South Africa will face co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Perfect record for Mexico
Co-hosts Mexico cemented top place in Group A with a perfect record as they defeated the Czechia 3-0 at the FIFA World Cup in the Estadio Azteca.
Mateo Chavez gave Mexico the lead in the 55th minute and Julian Quinones took advantage of disarray in the Czech defence six minutes later to extend the lead.
Alvaro Fidalgo completed a sparkling evening for the Mexicans as he smashed in a cross four minutes into added time.
The South American side came into this contest already certain of top spot in Group A and a place in the Round of 32, but Czechia needed a positive result in order to stand any chance of joining El Tri in the knockout stage.
As such it was Miroslav Koubek’s side who were the more aggressive in the opening exchanges, with Denis Visinsky especially lively and fizzing a low effort just past the post in the eighth minute.
Mexico gradually settled into their rhythm though, and ten minutes into the second half Mateo Chavez used his pace to break in behind before calmly slotting home and sparking bedlam inside Mexico City Stadium.
The massed ranks in the stands had barely regained their composure before they were sent into raptures again six minutes later, when Julian Quinones poked home from close range to make it 2-0.
The celebrations were ramped up even further with 12 minutes remaining when Javier Aguirre sent on 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, involved in his sixth edition of the FIFA World Cup, before Alvaro Fidalgo added the gloss with another goal in injury time.
Mexico move on to a last-32 match in the same stadium on Tuesday while the Czechs return home after finishing bottom of the group.
