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South Africa qualified for the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time with a 1-0 victory over South Korea on Wednesday evening.
Thapelo Maseko scored in the 63rd minute from a precise cross from Tshepang Moremi and South Africa finished in second place in Group A behind Mexico, who won all three of their group stage matches.
South Africa will face Canada, second in Group B, in a single-elimination match on Sunday in Inglewood, California.
Bafana Bafana had failed to advance from the group stage in 1998, 2002 and as hosts in 2010.
South Africa opened their World Cup with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico before taking advantage of a late goal to earn a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic. It entered its final group stage match behind Mexico and favored South Korea before shocking the Taegeuk Warriors.
South Korea opened this World Cup with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic and lost to Mexico 1-0 in their second match. The Taegeuk Warriors could still advance in the tournament, pending the results of other matches this week.
South Korea became the first Asian team to reach the round of 16 in 2002, when they finished fourth overall. The Taegeuk Warriors also made it out of the group stage in 2022 and 2010, reaching the round of 16 each time.
Associated Press reporting.
