South Africa did something Tuesday night that no Bafana Bafana squad had ever managed before: They won a knockout stage berth. A 1-0 win over South Korea in the group finale sent them through as the second-place team in Group A, setting up a Round of 16 date with co-host Canada on Sunday in Inglewood, California.
Thapelo Maseko provided the moment of history. In the 62nd minute, he collected a cross from Tshepang Moremi and drove it home from 15 yards, just inside the right post. South Korea needed only a draw to advance but couldn’t find an equalizer — now they wait to see if they sneak through as one of the best third-place teams.
Mexico closes out group play with a perfect record
While South Africa was making history, Mexico was putting an exclamation point on its group stage. El Tri beat the Czech Republic 3-0 in Mexico City to finish with nine points and top spot in Group A. Mateo Chavez, Julian Quinones and Alvaro Fidalgo all scored in the second half, and Mexico did it while making a bunch of lineup changes, since advancement was already locked up.
The first half was a snooze. Mexico had zero shots on target until Jorge Sanchez forced a save. The Czechs had one early chance, a Denis Visinsky effort that went wide, but that was it. Both teams traded long-range attempts that sailed over the bar. It felt like a scrimmage.
Then the second half started and Mexico shifted gears. Two goals in six minutes around the hour mark put the game away. Chavez finished a fast break set up by Luis Romo, and Quinones pounced on a rebound after his initial shot was saved. The 40-year-old legend Guillermo Ochoa came off the bench for his fourth World Cup appearance, and Fidalgo slammed home a loose ball in stoppage time to cap the win.
What’s next for both teams
South Africa faces a Canada squad that finished second in Group B. That game is Sunday at SoFi Stadium. It’s uncharted territory for Bafana Bafana, and Canada has the home crowd advantage. But South Africa’s defense has held up — they gave up just two goals in three group games.
Mexico, meanwhile, won its group without breaking a sweat. The knockout bracket is a different animal, and opponents won’t be as forgiving as the Czechs were. But right now, El Tri looks like a team that can hang with anyone.
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