Analysis— 5 min read
When South Africa lost 2-0 to Mexico on opening night, the tournament was widely assumed to be over for them. Fourteen days later, Bafana Bafana have done something no South African team has ever done in the history of the World Cup: they are through to the knockout rounds.
Thapelo Maseko's second-half strike in Monterrey on June 24 gave South Africa a 1-0 victory over South Korea that secured second place in Group A, behind a Mexico side who finished the group stage with a perfect nine points. South Africa face co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on June 28.
The win was the least South Africa deserved. They played with hunger and adventure throughout, generating 1.1 expected goals to South Korea's 1.0 despite facing 68 percent of the opposition's possession. Hugo Broos' side battled to a draw against the Czech Republic in their second match and arrived at their final group game knowing a win would be enough — and delivered under maximum pressure.
"We are in the second round. It's historic," Broos said at full time, visibly moved. "But I'm very happy for the guys. I've worked with them for five years. And what we did in those five years is amazing."
The South Korea subplot will dominate the post-mortems in Seoul. Coach Hong Myung-bo made the extraordinary decision to leave captain Son Heung-min — widely regarded as Asia's greatest-ever player — out of the starting lineup. The decision backfired spectacularly. Son came on from the bench in the second half but South Korea, despite their possession advantage, could not find a way through a resolute Bafana Bafana defence.
South Africa are playing at the World Cup for the first time since they hosted the tournament in 2010. They have never before advanced past the group stage. That record belongs to history now.