Czechia vs South Africa: Bafana Bafana Keep FIFA World Cup Dream Alive As Teboho Mokoena Scores Late Penalty To Seal A Crucial Draw

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South Africa pulled off a breathtaking comeback in the final minutes to settle for a draw with the Czech Republic, securing their first point of this FIFA World Cup. Bafana Bafana, missing some of their first-team stars, conceded early in the Group A fixture after Michal Sadilek struck for Czechia only six minutes into the game. The scoreline remained unchanged until South Africa claimed a penalty late in the second half. Teboho Mokoena made no mistake in converting from the spot to keep the knockout hopes alive. However, they must win in the remaining group-stage fixture to be in contention. Czechia’s situation is also the same, having notched a single point in two outings.

Czechia vs South Africa Match Report & Highlights

For ⁠the first time at a World Cup match, both head coaches were aged over 70, and the two ​74-year-old managers opted to shake things up after their sides put in poor performances in their opening-game defeats.
South Africa’s ​manager Hugo Broos ditched his much-criticised conservative formation, while Czech boss Miroslav Koubek made five changes to his team.

Patrik Schick completely mishit a header in the opening minute as the Czechs began on the front foot and found the early goal when the ​South African defence was caught napping on a long throw-in.

Adam Hlozek, left unmarked up front, gathered the ball ​on the right and headed for the byline before pulling it back to the edge of the box where Alexandr Sojka ‌slipped a ⁠perfect pass into Sadilek who fired a first-time shot past keeper Ronwen Williams.

The Czechs largely conceded possession after going in front, but South Africa did little with the ball and struggled to create any real quality in the final third.

Oswin Appollis tried his luck from distance and his shot took a deflection on its way narrowly ​wide and South Africa had ​another chance on the ⁠stroke of halftime. Keeper Matej Kovar spilled a ball floated into the six-yard area by Aubrey Modiba, but Czech captain Ladislav Krejci was there to block Thapelo Maseko’s shot.

Broos ​made a change at the start of the second half, Relebohile Mofokeng replacing Jayden ​Adams but ⁠it was the Czechs who came back out all guns blazing again with Lukas Cerv’s effort from distance tipped over the bar by Williams.

South Africa lacked imagination and looked to have run out of ideas until a rather harsh handball ⁠decision ​was given against Pavel Sulc and Mokoena sent the keeper the wrong ​way from the spot.

When will Czechia and South Africa play next?

The Czech Republic’s final group game is against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Wednesday, with South Africa ​taking on South Korea in Monterrey at the same time.

(With inputs from Reuters)