MONTERREY - Coach Hugo Broos has described South Africa’s historic progression to the World Cup knockout stages as a reward for five years of hard work and belief.
Bafana Bafana secured a place in the last 32 for the first time in the country’s history with a tense 1-0 victory over South Korea in Monterrey on Wednesday.
Thapelo Maseko’s second-half strike proved decisive, but Broos admitted the closing stages were difficult to watch.
“It’s very difficult to explain how it feels -- it’s a fantastic experience,” he said.
“We scored and then it was 20 minutes of heart beating and hoping the game should be finished as soon as possible.”
South Africa’s qualification completes a remarkable turnaround after opening their campaign with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Mexico.
A draw against the Czech Republic kept their hopes alive before Maseko’s winner sealed second place in Group A and a knockout clash against World Cup co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Broos paid tribute to the squad he has guided for the past five years.
“So yes, we are in the second round. It’s historic. But I’m very happy for the guys. I’ve worked with them for five years. And what we did in those five years is amazing.”
The decisive moment arrived in the 63rd minute when Tshepang Moremi delivered a cross that found Maseko, who calmly fired past goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu.
South Korea pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but could not break through as Bafana Bafana held firm to secure one of the biggest achievements in South African football history.
- AFP