South Africa have made history by advancing to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, following a 1-0 victory over South Korea. The decisive goal was scored by Thapelo Maseko, securing their place as runners-up in Group A behind co-hosts Mexico.
The win means South Africa will now face Canada in the round of 32 on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. This marks a significant achievement for the nation, becoming the seventh African team to reach the knockout phase in World Cup history.
Tactical Decisions and Key Moments
A notable pre-match decision saw South Korea’s captain, Son Heung-min, benched for the crucial fixture. The 33-year-old, who is his country’s all-time top appearance maker and second top scorer, was surprisingly left out of the starting XI by manager Hong Myung-bo. This tactical choice came despite Son’s prominent status and the team’s need for a result to guarantee second place in the group.
Reports suggested that Son had not shown any signs of injury in the previous game and warmed up to significant cheers from the crowd. His absence from the starting line-up was described as a shock, particularly given his status as a key player. Son was introduced at half-time but had limited influence on the game’s outcome.
The match itself saw South Africa maintain a possession percentage of 31.5, their lowest in any World Cup match. Conversely, South Korea recorded their highest possession on record in a World Cup match at 68.5 per cent. Despite this, South Africa managed to secure the win, with Maseko’s left-footed strike in the 63rd minute proving to be the difference. Maseko, who is on loan to AEL Limassol in Cyprus, became the first player from a Cypriot club to score a World Cup goal.
The atmosphere in Estadio Monterrey was described as unusual, with celebrations erupting among fans when news of Mexico’s opening goal in their own match filtered through. These moments of jubilation among Mexican and South Korean supporters coincided with Maseko’s goal, which stunned the South Korean side.
Implications for Both Teams
South Africa’s victory extends their unbeaten streak in World Cup matches where they have led, now standing at three wins and two draws. Their qualification for the knockout stage means they join Morocco as the second African nation to advance in this tournament.
For South Korea, the loss leaves their progression uncertain. While they should have done enough to qualify as one of the eight best third-place teams, a place in the next round is not guaranteed. The team’s performance, particularly with Son Heung-min on the bench, has raised questions. Son has not scored in Major League Soccer (MLS) this season in 13 appearances, and his last World Cup goal was in 2018.
The decision to bench Son may have been an attempt by Hong Myung-bo to introduce a different dynamic after a narrow win against the Czech Republic and a loss to Mexico. However, it ultimately did not yield the desired result for South Korea.
The outcome also has implications for other teams, with Scotland facing increased pressure to qualify as South Korea’s third-place record is reportedly better than theirs. South Africa will now focus on their upcoming match against Canada on Sunday.
Upcoming Fixtures and Qualified Teams
With South Africa’s qualification, 12 of the 32 knockout-round spots have now been filled. The teams that have secured their places include:
- Canada
- Switzerland
- Mexico
- South Africa
- United States
- Germany
- Argentina
- France
- Norway
- Brazil
- Morocco
- Colombia
The match between South Africa and South Korea took place on Thursday, June 25, with a kick-off time of 2am BST at Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe.
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Source: racingpost.com
Daniel Fairbrother is the Senior Football Correspondent at Latest News UK, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with over a decade of reporting experience. He spent eight years on the football desk of a Yorkshire daily before moving into national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Leeds, he watches non-league football and runs a five-a-side league. “The best football stories are won in the week, not on the whistle.”