Mokoena keeps terrible Bafana Bafana alive

There may be a chance that Bafana Bafana will go down in history books during this World Cup. For now, they are the team which allowed the quickest goal at this tournament as Hugo Broos’ men played another poor game. Maybe somebody else will concede quicker until the end of the tournament, but for now it’s South Africa, who somehow managed to draw with Czech Republic 1-1. Mamelodi Sundowns’ Teboho Mokoena was the savior with a penalty kick in the 83rd minute, but with a display like in the first two games of the World Cup, Bafana Bafana have no chance against South Korea in the last round.

Just like against Mexico, Hugo Broos’ players delivered a subpar performance and it’s difficult to say who was worse: defense or the offense. Defensive players were in shambles just like in the opening match and their mistake allowed the Czechs to score the goal, while offense was fruitless, with only three shots on target, first of which came in the 70th minute and the second came as the penalty kick. Czech Republic was the better team, but that doesn’t’ matter in football if you don’t use your chances and they had their ones.

The first goal came after just six minutes of play, narrowly beating Germany's Lukas Nmecha and Portugal's Joao Neves for the earliest goal of the tournament. This was again another dreadful defense solution which allowed Sadilek to get the ball into the penalty area and score the first goal. Bafana Bafana needed at least 10 minutes to finally start playing some football, but didn’t have any players eager to make a difference, apart from Thapelo Maseko. South Africa’s right winger made some excellent run-ins and created two chances for his teammates, but they failed to convert. Right-back Khuliso Mudau bursted in the 17th minute and whipped in a terrific low cross into the area, causing mayhem in the box, but Czech Republic got away with it as the ball ricochets off a Bafana Bafana man to go out for a goal-kick.

The Czechs had a great opportunity to score another one just at the start of the second half but Darida’s effort from 11 meters was blocked by Mbokazi. Patrik Schick, known for his good areal attack reacted poorly two minutes later and his shot went straight into the South Africa’s keeper. And just like in the first half, after those chances, the game quietened down and Bafana Bafana had even fewer chances than in the first half. Just when everybody thought that the game will finish with a 1-0 victory, Maseko drived inside and took on a hopeful long shot and it cannoned back off the arm of Pavel Sulc. Referee pointed at the spot and Mamelodi Sundowns player was cool and concentrated. This penalty kick might have been a start of a miracle – Bafana Bafana’s trip to the knock-out phase, but only if they beat South Korea.

WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE (ROUND 2)

Group A

Thursday 18.06.

Czech Republic - South Africa 1-1 (1-0)

/Sadilek 6 - Mokoena 83(p)/

Friday 19.06.

04.00: (2.10) Mexico (3.30) South Korea (3.70)