In a surprising turn of events, South Africa secured a 1-0 victory over South Korea on Wednesday in Monterrey, earning the crucial three points needed to progress to the round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup.
Bafana will take on Canada next, with the match scheduled for June 28 in Los Angeles. The victory was sealed by a well-placed second-half goal from Thapelo Maseko, showcasing a rejuvenated team spirit and attacking prowess that had been absent in previous matches against Mexico and Czechia.
Leading up to the match, South Africa’s head coach Hugo Broos answered the fans’ calls by starting Orlando Pirates standout Relebohile Mofokeng, whose participation proved pivotal for the team throughout the match’s early hours in South Africa.
Mofokeng had previously come off the bench in Bafana’s 1-1 draw against Czechia and didn’t play in the opening match against Mexico, which ended in a 2-0 defeat. Alongside him, striker Evidence Makgopa also made a start, adding more depth to the attack after his solid performance off the bench against Czechia.
In a surprising move, South Korea chose to keep their star striker Son Heung Min on the bench, seemingly feeling secure in their advancement to the next round, a decision that would cost them dearly.
Bafana began the match with a familiar strategy, focusing on defense and keeping Ronwen Williams busy with defensive passes.
The first significant opportunity arose in the 7th minute when Mofokeng positioned himself well in the box to receive a cross from Oswin Appollis, but his shot was deflected wide.
South Korea quickly responded, with Lee Kang In’s shot narrowly missing the target, though Mbokazi would have likely intervened had it veered left.
Makgopa’s inclusion proved to be a key decision as he nearly connected with a cross from Aubrey Modiba, narrowly missing a glancing header that would have found the net, showcasing a far more energetic Bafana compared to previous outings.
After a refreshing hydration break in the 28th minute, Bafana built a promising attacking sequence. Maseko crafted a well-timed shot, but it went directly at the goalkeeper. The rebound fell to Thalente Mbatha, who also shot at Kim from close range—a disappointment reflected in Broos’s frustrated response on the sidelines.
By halftime, Bafana were perhaps regretting their inability to capitalize on their first-half dominance, having struggled to find the net since the AFCON tournament earlier in the year.
One player who impressed was Yaya Sithole, who had faced criticism after his poor performance against Mexico and subsequent suspension from the Czechia match. However, he rebounded effectively and played an instrumental role in midfield, stepping up in the absence of the suspended Teboho Mokoena.
Recognizing Bafana’s improved performance, South Korea opted to bring LAFC‘s Son into the game after halftime, having initially underestimated the situation.
Bafana quickly found their rhythm again, with Maseko coming close again in the 49th minute. A clever pass from the back found him, and while he controlled it well, his hesitation to take the shot and get it onto his preferred left foot allowed the chance to slip away, leaving Broos visibly frustrated.
However, Maseko’s persistence paid off in the 63rd minute when a clever cutback and jink evaded the Korean defense, setting him up for a perfect shot from a pinpoint pass by Tshepang Moremi. This marked Bafana’s first non-penalty goal at a World Cup since 2010, erupting jubilation on the bench.
With a long 20 minutes left, Maseko was substituted for Iqraam Rayners as South Korea ramped up their pressure for an equalizer. Bafana shifted into a defensive mode, a risky strategy given the time left to play.
As the match approached its climax, fans held their breath when Williams faced his toughest test yet in the 93rd minute, successfully saving a glancing header off a cross that could have equalized the score, managing to secure both the win and the hopes of South African supporters.