South Africa made history by qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup for the very first time with a narrow 1-0 win over South Korea in Monterrey.
Thapelo Maseko struck the only goal of the game just after the hour mark. It was the only moment of real quality in a game sorely lacking otherwise.
Bafana Bafana held on for the remainder of the game with relative ease on a desperately disappointing night for the Koreans, who must now wait to see if their World Cup journey continues.
How South Africa made history
Maseko becomes a national hero
South Africa started the night in bottom spot of Group A, knowing that they needed both a win in Monterrey and for Czech Republic to not beat Mexico.
The co-hosts did their bit, winning 3-0 to cap off a brilliant group stage performance, leaving it to the rainbow nation to find a hero.
Thapelo Maseko was that man. He came into tonight’s fixture with just one goal from eight caps but left it having scored the biggest goal in the country’s football history.
Tshepang Moremi provided the assist, steering the ball to the winger, who smashed low and hard into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
The 22-year-old will be the toast of the entire country tonight and for years and years to come.
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Through at the fourth time of asking
As mentioned, Bafana Bafana have made it out of the group stages of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
Despite qualifying for the tournament ahead of African heavyweights Nigeria, few predicted anything but another early exit for a country who have little to no pedigree on the biggest stage.
Prior to tonight, they had won just two of their previous 11 games at the tournament and one of those came while hosting in 2010 against a France side in total disarray.
| South Africa at the World Cup | |
| Games | 12 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 5 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Goals for | 13 |
| Goals against | 19 |
Hugo Broos and his unheralded side deserve an incredible amount of credit for doing what teams boasting the likes of Lucas Radebe, Steven Pienaar, Benni McCarthy and Quinton Fortune and others could not.
Canada now await in Los Angeles on 28th June and there is every chance more history could soon be made.
End of the World Cup road for Son?
Son Heung-min is both the greatest South Korean and Asian footballer of all time. That can’t be debated.
Approaching his 34th birthday, though, his powers are on the wane as shown by his presence on the bench for an absolutely vital game.
The captain did come on at half-time for Hwang Hee-chan but could not stop his country from falling to a potentially hugely damaging defeat.
A point would have guaranteed progression to the knockout stages for the fourth time but instead the Koreans now face an anxious wait. With eight of 12 third-placed sides going through, they do have a decent chance but so much more was expected after the opening night win over Czech Republic.
Was this Son’s last World Cup appearance or will the legendary forward yet have his last dance?