South Korea 0 – 1 South Africa
WORLDCUP · June 25, 2026 · Final
🎧 Post-Game Report (audio)
Post-Game Recap
South Africa pulled off the upset tonight, beating South Korea one-nil at the twenty twenty-six World Cup, and it was a result built on defensive grit and a clinical finish against the run of play.
Korea controlled this match from the opening whistle — sixty-eight percent possession, six corner kicks, and Lee Gi-Hyuk threading ninety-one accurate passes through the midfield. They had the ball, they had the territory, but they could not find the net. Three shots on goal, three saves, and South Africa's Ronwen Williams was there every time Korea threatened.
The Taeguk Warriors were also caught offside three times in key moments, and that indiscipline cost them rhythm in the final third. Oh Hyeon-Gyu managed just two shots on the night — not nearly enough from a side that dominated possession.
South Africa came with a plan and executed it. Thapelo Maseko led all players with five shots, and it was that relentless forward pressure on the counter that eventually broke Korea open. Khuliso Mudau was everywhere defensively — twenty interventions — protecting the lead once Bafana Bafana found the breakthrough.
The story of this game was simple: Korea had the ball, South Africa had the answer. A massive three points for Bafana Bafana on the biggest stage in football.
That's your post-game report. Sports Desk, signing off.
AI-generated post-game report composed from the official play-by-play and box score.
Complete Play-by-Play
Show all 88 plays
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
First Half begins.
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Khuliso Mudau.
2'
Attempt blocked. Kim Min-Jae (Korea Republic) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lee Kang-In with a cross.
2'
Thapelo Maseko (South Africa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
3'
Foul by Lee Tae-Seok (Korea Republic).
3'
Corner, South Africa. Conceded by Lee Tae-Seok.
6'
Attempt blocked. Relebohile Mofokeng (South Africa) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
6'
Corner, South Africa. Conceded by Kim Min-Jae.
6'
Attempt missed. Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Korea Republic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Seol Young-Woo with a cross.
7'
Attempt missed. Lee Kang-In (Korea Republic) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lee Tae-Seok.
8'
Attempt missed. Evidence Makgopa (South Africa) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Aubrey Modiba with a cross.
14'
Thapelo Maseko (South Africa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
15'
Foul by Lee Tae-Seok (Korea Republic).
15'
Attempt blocked. Thapelo Maseko (South Africa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Relebohile Mofokeng.
19'
Corner, South Africa. Conceded by Lee Gi-Hyuk.
19'
Attempt saved. Oswin Appollis (South Africa) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Kim Seung-Gyu (Korea Republic). Assisted by Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
20'
Offside, South Africa. Evidence Makgopa is caught offside.
22'
Delay in match for a drinks break.
23'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
26'
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Relebohile Mofokeng.
27'
Attempt saved. Thalente Mbatha (South Africa) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Kim Seung-Gyu (Korea Republic). Assisted by Thapelo Maseko.
30'
Attempt saved. Evidence Makgopa (South Africa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Kim Seung-Gyu (Korea Republic).
30'
Foul by Thalente Mbatha (South Africa).
34'
Seol Young-Woo (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
34'
Attempt missed. Hwang Hee-Chan (Korea Republic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kim Min-Jae.
34'
Foul by Yaya Sithole (South Africa).
36'
Lee Kang-In (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
36'
Attempt missed. Thapelo Maseko (South Africa) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Relebohile Mofokeng following a fast break.
39'
Khuliso Mudau (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
40'
Foul by Hwang Hee-Chan (Korea Republic).
40'
Thapelo Maseko (South Africa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
41'
Foul by Lee Gi-Hyuk (Korea Republic).
41'
Attempt missed. Relebohile Mofokeng (South Africa) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ime Okon following a set piece situation.
42'
Attempt blocked. Thapelo Maseko (South Africa) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Relebohile Mofokeng.
43'
Offside, South Africa. Aubrey Modiba is caught offside.
44'
Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
45'+1'
Offside, South Africa. Evidence Makgopa is caught offside.
45'+2'
Corner, South Africa. Conceded by Lee Tae-Seok.
45'+4'
Attempt missed. Aubrey Modiba (South Africa) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
45'+5'
First Half ends, South Africa 0, Korea Republic 0.
45'+5'
Substitution, Korea Republic. Son Heung-Min replaces Hwang Hee-Chan.
45'
Substitution, Korea Republic. Kim Jin-Gyu replaces Paik Seung-Ho.
45'
Substitution, Korea Republic. Jens Castrop replaces Lee Tae-Seok.
45'
Second Half begins South Africa 0, Korea Republic 0.
45'
Attempt blocked. Thapelo Maseko (South Africa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Relebohile Mofokeng.
51'
Attempt missed. Thalente Mbatha (South Africa) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Yaya Sithole.
51'
Foul by Oswin Appollis (South Africa).
54'
Seol Young-Woo (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
54'
Foul by Evidence Makgopa (South Africa).
59'
Hwang In-Beom (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
59'
Attempt saved. Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Korea Republic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Ronwen Williams (South Africa). Assisted by Seol Young-Woo with a cross.
60'
Substitution, South Africa. Tshepang Moremi replaces Oswin Appollis.
62'
Goal! South Africa 1, Korea Republic 0. Thapelo Maseko (South Africa) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tshepang Moremi following a fast break.
63'
Khuliso Mudau (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
65'
Foul by Jens Castrop (Korea Republic).
65'
Substitution, Korea Republic. Park Jin-Seob replaces Kim Min-Jae.
65'
Thapelo Maseko (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
69'
Foul by Jens Castrop (Korea Republic).
69'
Delay in match for a drinks break.
69'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
71'
Foul by Aubrey Modiba (South Africa).
72'
Lee Kang-In (Korea Republic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
72'
Aubrey Modiba (South Africa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
73'
Substitution, Korea Republic. Cho Gue-Sung replaces Oh Hyeon-Gyu.
74'
Substitution, South Africa. Iqraam Rayners replaces Thapelo Maseko.
75'
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Aubrey Modiba.
76'
Foul by Khuliso Mudau (South Africa).
76'
Son Heung-Min (Korea Republic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
76'
Tshepang Moremi (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
78'
Foul by Lee Han-Beom (Korea Republic).
78'
Yaya Sithole (South Africa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
78'
Foul by Cho Gue-Sung (Korea Republic).
78'
Cho Gue-Sung (Korea Republic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
79'
Substitution, South Africa. Jayden Adams replaces Relebohile Mofokeng.
80'
Foul by Tshepang Moremi (South Africa).
83'
Park Jin-Seob (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Yaya Sithole.
85'
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Jayden Adams.
86'
Attempt missed. Seol Young-Woo (Korea Republic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
86'
Evidence Makgopa (South Africa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
87'
Foul by Jens Castrop (Korea Republic).
87'
Attempt blocked. Son Heung-Min (Korea Republic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kim Jin-Gyu.
88'
Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
90'+1'
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Yaya Sithole.
90'+2'
Attempt saved. Park Jin-Seob (Korea Republic) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the top left corner by Ronwen Williams (South Africa). Assisted by Jens Castrop with a cross.
90'+3'
Second Half ends, South Africa 1, Korea Republic 0.
90'+7'
Match ends, South Africa 1, Korea Republic 0.