Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute goal propelled South Africa into the knockout rounds of a World Cup for the first time, as a 1-0 victory over South Korea in Monterrey sealed second place in Group A. The forward, on loan at Cypriot club AEL Limassol from Mamelodi Sundowns, collected a cross from substitute Tshepang Moremi and drove a low shot past goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to ignite celebrations among the 51,243 crowd and millions back home.

The match had begun with South Korea, needing only a draw to advance, pressing high and forcing an early chance for Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in. Yet South Africa, reeling from an opening loss to Mexico and a late penalty that salvaged a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic, gradually imposed their speed on the counter. Coach Hugo Broos, the 74-year-old Belgian who will retire after the tournament, had reshaped his attack, and the pace of Maseko and Oswin Appollis repeatedly stretched the Korean backline. After a goalless first half, South Korea made three substitutions at the interval but could not regain control. Maseko’s goal left the Taegeuk Warriors chasing the game; they mustered little clear threat thereafter, with captain Ronwen Williams commanding his area.

For South Africa, the result overturns a history of group-stage exits. In 2010, as hosts, they became the first host nation eliminated in the group stage, and in three previous World Cup appearances they had never progressed. Captain Williams later said the squad had used pre-match dismissals as motivation. “When I saw the posts predicting the possible teams to go through and we were given no chance, that gave us strength,” he said. President Cyril Ramaphosa praised an “inspired team performance”, while in Soweto and other townships, fans in pyjamas and dressing gowns poured onto the streets, blowing vuvuzelas and singing the Zulu chant “Shosholoza”.

South Africa will face co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on 28 June, a fixture that offers a chance to extend their best-ever run. For South Korea, the defeat leaves them third with three points and a goal difference of minus one, forced to wait on other groups to learn if they advance as one of the eight best third-placed sides. Africa now has two teams in the last 32, after Morocco also progressed earlier in the day.