South Africa kept their World Cup hopes alive after a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Czechia in a Group A encounter that swung into life at key moments but largely struggled for rhythm.
Teboho Mokoena’s late penalty ensured Bafana Bafana earned a valuable point after Michal Sadilek had given Czechia an early lead in the sixth minute.
The result leaves both sides with everything to play for heading into the final round of group fixtures.
Czechia struck early when Sadilek finished off a flowing move involving Aleksandr Sojka, with the attack sparked by a long throw-in from Vladimir Coufal that caused chaos inside the South African penalty area.
The early goal marked the quickest strike of the tournament so far and set the tone for a lively opening spell.
However, despite their fast start, Czechia were unable to build on their advantage.
South Africa gradually settled into the contest and began to grow in confidence, even if clear-cut chances remained limited before the break.
The match then drifted through a subdued middle period, with neither side able to impose themselves fully.
Both defences remained largely untroubled until the closing stages, when the game suddenly came to life.
South Africa’s persistence eventually paid off after Maseko’s effort struck an arm inside the penalty area.
Following the referee’s decision, Mokoena stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick with just five minutes remaining, levelling the score and reigniting Bafana Bafana’s hopes.
The equaliser continued South Africa’s strong World Cup record from the penalty spot. The conversion ensured they maintained a 100 percent record from penalties at the tournament, following previous successes in 1998 and 2002.
The result was a dramatic end to a match that had offered little for long periods. The first five minutes and the final five minutes provided the intensity expected at this level, but the intervening spell was far more cautious and fragmented.
Czechia will feel they missed an opportunity to secure all three points after failing to extend their lead when on top. South Africa, meanwhile, showed resilience to fight back and take something from a match that looked to be slipping away.
The draw means both teams now sit on one point in Group A after losing their opening matches. Their final group fixtures will now decide whether either side can progress to the round of 32.
South Africa’s equaliser was particularly significant, marking their first World Cup goal since Katlego Mphela scored against France in 2010. It ended a 16-year wait for a tournament strike and provided a moment of relief for Bafana Bafana supporters.
The group concludes with South Africa facing South Korea in Monterrey, while Czechia meet Mexico in Mexico City, with both matches scheduled to kick off simultaneously.
