South Africa qualifies for World Cup knockout stages

by MTHULISI SIBANDA 
Africa Editor
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – SOUTH Africa has broken its World Cup hoodoo by securing qualification for the knockout stages for the first time since participating in the tournament.

Coach Hugo Broos’ side has defied the odds with a 1-0 win over South Korea at the Monterrey Stadium to also edge them out via head-to-head.

Thapelo Maseko was the hero for Bafana Bafana after a well-executed finish in the 63rd minute to send the sizeable crowd of South African fans in the stadium, and millions who stayed awake for the 03h00 local time kick-off, into a frenzy.

Debutants in 1998 in France and hosts in 2010, South Africa, as well as participants in 2002, had always failed to make it out of the group stages.

Their campaign in this edition had got off to the worst possible start against co-hosts Mexico, with a 2-0 loss, receiving two red cards in the process.

They seemed destined for an exit in the next match against Czechia but, against the Koreans, they exuded unprecedented ambition.

Bottom of the group going into the final match, it was non-negotiable that they needed a win.

Broos rang the changes in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Relebohile Mofokeng and Evidence Makgopa replaced Jayden Adams and Iqraam Rayners, both of whom had started the two previous games.

Sphephelo Sithole returned after a one-match ban for a red card against Mexico.

He replaced the suspended Teboho Mokoena, scorer of the equaliser against Czechia.

For the third successive match, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau and Ime Okon formed the defence in front of captain and goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams.

South Africa almost conceded early for the third match running but Lee Jang-in’s shot went narrowly wide of Williams’ post in the seventh minute.

At the other end, Makgopa’s 13th-minute header did not trouble goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu.

A last-gasp recovery tackle by Lee Gi-hyuk denied Maseko in the 19th minute after South Africa broke loose.

Seung-gyu then had to be at his acrobatic best to deny Thalente Mbatha from outside the box. The goalkeeper saved the rebound effort point-blank, but it would not have counted as the player was offside.

The hard-running but ill-composed Maseko skied an effort 38 minutes into the half that South Africa finished with more momentum than the two sides.

He failed to find the target again after being fed by the enterprising Mofokeng in the 51st minute, Mbatha blasting the follow-up effort wide from distance.

There was no denying Maseko minutes later as he controlled expertly to fire past Seung-gyu.

Resolute defending to thwart every late Korean raid eventually sealed the deal for Bafana Bafana.

– CAJ News