00:10South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 on Wednesday to reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the
00:16first time in their history. An astonishing turnaround after a dismal opening defeat.
00:22The Bafana Bafana, playing at the tournament for the first time since they hosted it in 2010,
00:27were widely written off after their 2-0 loss to Group A winners, Mexico. But they battled to a draw
00:35against the Czech Republic and came out on top of what was effectively a shootout with South Korea
00:39for second place in Monterey, thanks to the Pelo Moseco's second-half strike. South Korea coach
00:46Hong Myung-bo made a shock call by leaving captain Sun Heung-min, considered by many to be Asia's
00:52greatest-ever player, out of the starting lineup.
00:59The Asian team started strongly, with stand-in captain Kim Min-jae's powerful header blocked
01:05on the goal line by Aubrey Modiba, before Lee Kang-in flashed wide. South Africa quickly settled,
01:12playing with hunger and adventure, but their finishing was wasteful.
01:17They seemed certain to take the lead in the 30th minute when the ball fell to evidence Magopa after
01:22South Korean goalkeeper Kim Sung-gyu parried Thalente Mbatha's shot. But Magopa could only
01:28tamely poke the ball straight at the goalkeeper from close range.
01:43Sun came on at the start of the second half, one of three changes made by Coach Hong as he
01:49sought to
01:49change the script. Early in the second period, Moseco squandered another good position while South
01:55Korea forward Oh Hyun-gyu tested goalkeeper Ronwen Williams at the other end. As news filtered
02:01through from Mexico City that the host nation were leading against the Czech Republic, there was an
02:06added sense of urgency. South Africa seized their moment with Chepang Moremi crossing to Moseco,
02:26who this time kept his cool, firing home inside the near post in the 63rd minute.
02:32South Korea pushed hard in the closing stages but ran out of time, meaning South Africa will face
02:38co-hosts Canada and Los Angeles on June 28. Mexico topped the group with nine points after winning all
02:45three of their matches.
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