South Africa secured a historic World Cup achievement by reaching the knockout stage for the first time in their history after defeating South Korea 1-0 in their final Group A match, Softfootball reports.
Thapelo Maseko scored the decisive goal in the 63rd minute after connecting with a precise cross from Tshepang Moremi, sending Bafana Bafana through to the Round of 32. The result saw South Africa finish second in Group A behind Mexico, who topped the group after maintaining a perfect record.
The victory completed a remarkable turnaround for South Africa, who began the tournament with a 2-0 defeat against Mexico. They responded strongly with a late equaliser against Czech Republic before producing one of the biggest moments in the country’s football history by defeating South Korea.
Despite South Africa’s limited possession, they showed excellent defensive organisation and efficiency in attack.
The defeat leaves South Korea with three points from the group stage, and they must now wait for other results to determine whether they qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
For South Africa, the win represents a landmark achievement after previous World Cup disappointments in 1998, 2002 and 2010, when they failed to progress beyond the group stage. They will now face Canada in the Round of 32, carrying confidence from their historic qualification.
Player Ratings
South Africa
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Thapelo Maseko | 7.5 |
| Y. Sithole | 7.3 |
| M. Mbokazi | 7.3 |
| R. Mofokeng | 7.3 |
| K. Mudau | 7.0 |
| I. Rayners | 6.9 |
| J. Adams | 6.9 |
| T. Mbatha | 6.8 |
| I. Okon | 6.8 |
| A. Modiba | 6.7 |
| O. Appollis | 6.7 |
| T. Moremi | 6.6 |
| R. Williams | 6.5 |
| E. Makgopa | 6.4 |
South Korea
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Son Heung-Min | 4.7 |
| Lee Kang-In | 4.4 |
| Hwang Hee-Chan | 4.1 |
| Kim Min-Jae | 4.1 |
| Kim Seung-Gyu | 4.1 |
| Kim Jin-Gyu | 4.0 |
| J. Castrop | 3.9 |
| Lee Han-Beom | 3.9 |
| Park Jin-Seob | 3.9 |
| Hwang In-Beom | 3.8 |
| Lee Tae-Seok | 3.8 |
| Oh Hyeon-Gyu | 3.7 |
| Paik Seung-Ho | 3.6 |
| Seol Young-Woo | 3.6 |
| Lee Gi-Hyuk | 3.5 |
| Cho Gue-Sung | 3.3 |
Match Statistics
| Statistic | South Africa | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 1 | 0 |
| Goals | Thapelo Maseko (63′) | — |
| Possession | 31.5% | 68.5% |
| Total Shots | 12 | 18 |
| Shots on Goal | 4 (31%) | 2 (29%) |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.10 | 1.00 |
| Accurate Passes | 249 (86%) | 473 (91%) |
| Duels Won | 40 | 42 |
| Saves | 1 | 3 |
| Fouls Committed | 7 | 9 |
