Bafana Bafana made history by reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Korea Republic in their final Group A clash at the Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe.
READ: Thapelo Maseko Etches His Name Into South African Football Folklore
South Africa survived an early scare in just the second minute when Korea Republic threatened from a corner, but Aubrey Modiba came to Bafana Bafana’s rescue with a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Kim Min-jae’s powerful header.
Korea should’ve have taken the lead six minutes later but Lee Kang-in saw his shot sail narrowly wide of the upright.
Bafana responded in the 14th minute when Evidence Makgopa had a chance on goal but the striker could not make a proper connection on the ball as his effort flew wide of goal.
South Africa came close to breaking the deadlock just after the half-hour mark when Seung-Gyu Kim denied Thalente Mbatha’s effort, with the rebound falling kindly to Evidence Makgopa, but the striker failed to capitalise as his point-blank effort was saved by the Korean goalkeeper.
Nether side could find the opening goal in the first-half as the match went into the break locked at 0-0.
Korea opted to bring on fresh legs at the restart as Son Heung-min, Kim Jin-Kyu and Jens Castrop came on to replace Hwang Hee-chan, Paik Seung-ho and Lee Tae-seok.
Maseko had a golden opportunity to hand Bafana the lead in the 50th minute when he was played through on goal by Relebohile Mofokeng but the forward failed to trouble the keeper with his effort.
Rowen Williams came to his sides rescue on the hour mark when he made a vital save to deny Hyeongyu’s goal-bound effort.
Hugo Broos made his first substitution in the 62nd minute as Oswin Appollis was taken off and replaced by Tshepang Moremi, who makes his debut at the World Cup.
Bafana eventually takes the lead in the 62nd minute when Thapelo Maseko finds the back of the net after his fifth attempt at goal to hand his side the lead.
Korea made their fourth substitution of the match in the 65th minute when Kim Minjae was taken off and replaced by Park Jin-seob.
Both sides made chances after the 75th minute as Cho Gue-sung came on for Oh Hyeon-gyu, while South Africa brought on Iqraam Rayners to replace goal scorer Maseko.
Broos opted to go more defensively in the 80th minute as Mofokeng was taken off and replaced by Jayden Adams.
Korea had a rare chance at goal in the 86th minute but Seol Young-woo failed to make the most of his chance as he blazed his effort wide of goal.
Williams came to his sides rescue in stoppage-time when he came out to collect the ball before Park Jin-seob could get his header attempt on goal as a result of a cross into the box.
South Africa held on to their nerve until the final whistle to secure the win and their progression into the knockout stages after finishing second in Group A.
