South Africa and Czechia ended 1-1 in Atlanta on Thursday. Michal Sadílek struck in the sixth minute. Teboho Mokoena levelled from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute to keep Bafana Bafana's 2026 World Cup hopes alive.
South Africa and Czechia ended 1-1 in Atlanta on Thursday. Michal Sadílek struck in the sixth minute. Teboho Mokoena levelled from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute to keep Bafana Bafana's 2026 World Cup hopes alive.
Czechia led inside six minutes at Atlanta Stadium. Adam Hlozek chased down a loose ball on the right and fed Alexandr Sojka, who released Michal Sadílek to slide a finish past Ronwen Williams. It was the fastest goal of the tournament so far.
South Africa pressed for the rest of the afternoon but managed their first shot on target only in the 74th minute. The breakthrough came in the 83rd, when Thapelo Maseko's effort struck the arm of substitute Pavel Šulc and American referee Tori Penso pointed to the spot. Teboho Mokoena sent goalkeeper Matej Kovár the wrong way.
Hugo Broos felt his side were undone by a single lapse. "I think that we played a very good game today, except for the one moment in the beginning of the first half where we did not concentrate, nor maintain focus," the coach said. He pointed to Vladimír Coufal's long throw as the source of the opener.
Mokoena was shown in tears during the national anthem, thinking of his late grandfather. "I know, wherever he is, he would be proud of me," the midfielder said. "I just felt his presence in that moment. I thought if he was here, he would be proud of me because I know he believed in me when nobody believed in me."
Maseko, who won the penalty, described a physical contest. "We knew they're a very physical team and we knew that their approach is a physical one," he said. "Any contact for us is very difficult, that was the problem we faced."
The draw leaves both teams on one point from two matches. Their route to the knockout phase is still open, but they'll need results to fall their way.
Hugo Broos saw enough to believe. "If we go on like that and if we can make another performance like today I think we have a chance to go in the second round," he said.
South Africa face South Korea on Wednesday, 24 June at Monterrey Stadium. Mokoena will sit out the suspension, leaving Broos to reshape a midfield that ran the show against Czechia. At the same time, Czechia, who sit level on a single point, will likely need to beat co-hosts Mexico to keep any chances of advancing in the tournament.
