Thapelo Maseko scored the winner as South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 on Tuesday to secure a historic first-ever place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage.
With qualification on the line in their final Group A match, Bafana Bafana produced a disciplined display and got the breakthrough in the 63rd minute when Maseko found the net to put his side ahead.
South Korea responded by pushing forward in search of an equaliser and enjoyed lengthy spells of possession as the game wore on. However, South Africa’s defence stood firm under pressure to protect their lead.
Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was among the standout performers, making crucial saves as the Koreans increased the tempo in the closing stages.
The victory completed an impressive recovery from South Africa after they began their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico. They followed that result with a 1-1 draw against Czechia before securing the win they needed against South Korea to book their place in the knockout rounds.
For South Korea, the defeat ended their hopes of progressing despite entering the final round of group matches with qualification still within reach.
South Africa finished second in Group A behind Mexico and will now face Canada in the Round of 32. The qualification marks the first time Bafana Bafana have progressed beyond the World Cup group stage, having fallen short in 1998, 2002 and 2010.