South Africa celebrated a first World Cup knockout berth on Wednesday after Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute strike secured a 1-0 victory over South Korea – but the day’s drama was matched by Ecuador, who came from behind to stun Germany 2-1 and qualify as one of the top eight third-placed teams.
Maseko fired into the bottom corner to put South Africa on four points behind Group A winners Mexico, who beat Czechia 3-0. South Korea, who started with talisman Son Heung-min on the bench, have three points and still hope to advance as one of the best third-placed sides. “It was a fantastic experience,” said head coach Hugo Broos. “It was so tough today, but it was a good game. I think tactically we were very good and it was difficult for South Korea to find space. We scored, then there were 20 minutes of heart‑stopping moments. It’s historical, and I’m very happy for the guys.”
“Ecuador came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 and reach World Cup knockouts, while South Africa advanced for first time.”
The victory extends South Africa’s first World Cup beyond the group stage after they failed to advance in 1998, 2002 and 2010 – when they became the first host nation to miss the knockout rounds. Fans in Soweto and other communities, the match kicking off at 3am local time, left their houses in pyjamas and nightgowns to sing and dance in the streets at the final whistle. South Africa will now face co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Earlier, Ecuador produced a stunning comeback against Germany in Group E. The South Americans, who had lost to Ivory Coast and drawn 0-0 with Curacao without scoring a goal, conceded early to a controversial Leroy Sane strike. But Nilson Angulo levelled in the ninth minute, and Gonzalo Plata got the golden touch in an end-to-end encounter to make it 2-1. Alan Shearer felt Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer went down too clumsily for the first goal and was also at fault for the second. Ecuador’s victory sent their fans into a frenzy and secured a place in the Round of 32.
Elsewhere, a storm in the Kansas City area threatened to cause chaos for the match between the Netherlands and Tunisia, with a local fan zone already closed because of the lightning threat. Scotland, meanwhile, suffered a blow in their quest to qualify.