South Africa secured a historic 1-0 victory over South Korea on Wednesday, advancing to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time ever—a remarkable achievement following their disappointing group opener.
Known as Bafana Bafana, the South African squad returned to the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010. After a 2-0 defeat to Group A leaders Mexico, few expected them to continue, but they earned a crucial draw against the Czech Republic before facing South Korea in what effectively became a battle for second place in Monterrey.
Key Moments and Tactical Decisions
The decisive moment arrived in the second half when Thapelo Maseko found the net, guiding South Africa past their Asian opponents. South Korea’s coach, Hong Myung-bo, made a surprising decision by omitting captain Son Heung-min—widely regarded as Asia’s greatest player—from the starting lineup. The team started the match aggressively, with stand-in captain Kim Min-jae coming close to scoring after a powerful header was blocked on the goal line by South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba. Another chance for South Korea saw Lee Kang-in narrowly miss the target.
South Africa quickly found their rhythm, showing a blend of determination and creative play, though their finishing initially lacked precision. A promising opportunity arose in the 30th minute when the ball fell to Evidence Makgopa after a save by South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, but Makgopa’s weak attempt was comfortably saved at close range.
At the start of the second half, coach Hong brought Son Heung-min on as part of three substitutions, signaling an attempt to shift the momentum. Despite this, South Africa’s resilience paid off when Maseko’s strike secured their progression to the knockout rounds, marking an unprecedented milestone for the nation’s World Cup history.