South Africa reach World Cup knockouts for first time after South Korea upset | OneFootball

South Africa produced the World Cup’s first major shock by beating South Korea 1-0, a result that put them into the knockout phase for the first time.

Thapelo Maseko, 22, on loan at AEL Limassol, struck the winner. As reported by Superdeporte, he shares a dressing room there with Mexico goalkeeper Memo Ochoa, and had scored only two in 22 club games.

Their group campaign included a draw with Czech Republic and that victory over South Korea. Bafana Bafana will face Canada, one of the tournament hosts, in the last 32.

In 2010, as hosts, they beat France and drew the opening match against Mexico, yet went out on goal difference. With four points, level with Mexico, they were denied in the cruellest fashion.

In 2002, a similar tale unfolded. They drew with Paraguay and beat Slovakia, but a defeat to Spain left them third, one goal behind Paraguay, who progressed with four points.

Their first World Cup came in France 1998, after a long FIFA ban over apartheid ended in the early 1990s. With the democratic transition and Nelson Mandela elected as the country’s first president, South Africa returned to FIFA competitions.

Source: Superdeporte