2026 WorldMexico Crown Perfect Group Stage, South Africa Make History
MEXICO CITY, June 25 (Bernama-dpa) -- World Cup co-hosts Mexico crowned their group stage performance with a 3-0 win against the Czech Republic on Wednesday, while South Africa booked a spot in the knock-out stage for the first time in their history with a 1-0 victory over South Korea, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
Mexico had already qualified to the next phase as Group A winners.
South Korea need to wait and see if they will finish among the eight best third-placed teams, while the Czech Republic are out.
Mateo Chávez dashed from his own half, skipped over a Czech challenge and coolly slotted the ball home to give Mexico the lead in the 55th minute.
Julián Quinones then added a second in the 61st with one of the most bizarre goals of the tournament so far.
There were loud cheers in the 78th when legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa replaced Raul Rangel to earn his 153rd Mexico cap. And he joined the party when Alvaro Fidalgo completed the win in stoppage-time.
In Monterrey, the Mexican fans in the stadium celebrated their national team goals from distance, but the South Africa fans also got their share in the festivities when their nation broke the deadlock in the 63rd.
Thapelo Maseko fired through the legs of Jens Castrop and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Kim Seung Gyu for the winner, which secured a historic qualification for the knock-outs.
The Bafana Bafana will now face co-hosts Canada in the round of 32 in Los Angeles on Sunday.
-- BERNAMA-XINHUA
