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South Africa advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time with a 1-0 win over South Korea on Wednesday night.
Thapelo Maseko scored in the 63rd minute from a pinpoint cross from Tshepang Moremi and South Africa finished second in Group A behind Mexico, who won all three of their group games.
South Africa will take on Group B runners-up Canada in a knockout match on Sunday in Inglewood, California.
Bafana Bafana had failed to progress from the group stage in 1998, 2002 and as hosts in 2010.
South Africa opened their World Cup with a 2-0 loss to Mexico before using a late goal to earn a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic. It went into its final group game after Mexico and favored South Korea before shocking the Taegeuk Warriors.
South Korea opened this World Cup with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Czech Republic and lost to Mexico 1-0 in their second game. The Taegeuk Warriors could still advance in the tournament, pending the results of other games this week.
South Korea became the first Asian team to reach the knockout round in 2002 when they finished fourth overall. The Taegeuk Warriors also advanced from the group stage in 2022 and 2010, both times reaching the Round of 16.
Report from the Associated Press.
