Thapelo Maseko scored in the second half for South Africa as they secured an automatic place in the last 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in their history, pipping South Korea 1-0 at the Estadio Monterrey in Mexico on Thursday morning.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsNeeding a win and a favorable result in the other Group A tie, Bafana Bafana stunned many as they struck a dagger in the 63rd minute, guaranteeing second place in their pool, after tournament co-hosts Mexico did them a job by overcoming Czech Republic 3-0 at the Mexico City Stadium.After a fairly quiet game offensively, it was South Africa who found the decisive blow shortly after the hour-mark, when the industrious Maseko rifled a shot into the bottom right corner from 15 yards, feeding off a brilliant pass from Tshepang Moremi on the left.The goal, which came as the announcements from the other group game rung inside the stadium, was the validation of the tremendous effort Bafana Bafana had put in the game beforehand, having threatened on multiple occasions, but without a telling touch.South Korea, on the other hand, seemed content for a draw, which would have seen them progress automatically, but to get punished by the arrowed strike, and forced to hold on to their ambitions until at least the end of the weekend.Across town at Mexico City, a much-changed Mexico ensured their 100 per-cent record at this year’s World Cup remained, needing three second-half goals from Mateo Chavez, Julian Quinones, and Alvaro Fidalgo, to end a perfect group-stage run that saw them win all three games without conceding a single goal.
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