South Africa 1-0 South Korea player ratings: Maseko and Moremi the heroes on a night Bafana made history

South Africa produced their finest show of the 2026 World Cup to bushed South Korea 1-0 successful Guadalupe, Mexico, securing a last-32 spot for the archetypal clip successful their history.

The Bafana Bafana determination onto 4 points and instrumentality 2nd spot successful Group A, portion South Korea — who stall connected 3 points — present hold anxiously to observe whether they person done capable to advancement arsenic 1 of the 8 champion third-placed teams.

South Africa subordinate ratings

Ronwen Williams — 6/10

A composed and assured display, though Williams was seldom tested by the South Korean attack. Dealt good with aerial situations and work the crippled intelligently, whether playing abbreviated oregon launching the shot forward.

Khuliso Mudau — 7/10

Reliable down the close throughout. Offered a accordant passing enactment connected that flank and regularly recovered teammates done the lines with neat, assured play.

Ime Okon — 6/10

Mbekezeli Mbokazi — 7/10

Solid successful the bosom of defence and composed successful possession. Produced a fig of awesome passes from the backmost and formed a dependable concern with Okon. One of the pillars of South Africa's antiaircraft operation connected the night.

Aubrey Modiba — 6/10

Much similar Mudau connected the right, Modiba delivered a quiescent but awesome show down the left. He showed bully crippled awareness, knowing erstwhile to propulsion guardant and erstwhile to clasp position, and linked good with Appollis successful that corridor.

Thalente Mbatha — 6/10

Sharp successful anticipation and reliable successful his antiaircraft work. Operated arsenic portion of a midfield pairing with Sithole that efficaciously policed the centre of the parkland portion besides contributing to the build-up from deep.

Sphephelo Sithole — 6/10

Thapelo Maseko — 7/10

Offered a accordant menace down the close flank and caused South Korea's defenders persistent problems with his vigor and directness. Despite missing respective earlier chances, helium kept moving and was rewarded with a well-taken extremity successful the 2nd half.

Relebohile Mofokeng — 7/10

Making his archetypal commencement astatine this World Cup, Mofokeng looked bare from the archetypal whistle. The astir originative and inventive subordinate successful the South African side, helium attempted ambitious passes and long-range strikes portion contributing consistently without the ball. Electric and afloat committed throughout.

Oswin Appollis — 5/10

Evidence Makgopa — 5/10

Found himself isolated astatine the extremity of the onslaught and was not often progressive successful South Africa's build-up play. That said, helium did his occupation successful the moments that mattered — holding the shot nether unit and winning aerial duels from agelong passes.

SUBSTITUTES

Tshepang Moremi — 8/10

Immediate impact. Within moments of coming on, helium burst guardant down the left, bushed his antheral with small trouble and delivered a perfectly weighted walk for Maseko to finish. An outstanding cameo that straight changed the game.

Iqraam Rayners — 6/10

Jayden Adams — N/R

South Korea subordinate ratings

Kim Seung-gyu — 6/10

Made 2 important back-to-back saves successful the archetypal fractional and was not astatine responsibility for the South African goal.

Lee Han-beom — 4/10

Was comfortably beaten by Moremi connected the tally that led to the winning extremity and showed persistent uncertainty successful his antiaircraft enactment throughout. Well beneath the level required.

Kim Min-jae — 6/10

One of the fewer South Korean defenders to look with immoderate credit. The Bayern Munich centre-back was a dependable beingness and contributed close passing retired from the back.

Lee Gi-hyuk — 5/10

Seol Young-woo — 5/10

Hwang In-beom — 4/10

One of South Korea's bigger disappointments of the evening. Subdued and ineffective successful his relation arsenic the nexus betwixt midfield and attack. The nonaccomplishment to link his side's defence to its forwards was a large origin successful South Korea's level performance.

Paik Seung-ho — 4/10

Lee Tae-seok — 5/10

Lee Kang-in — 5/10

Considerably beneath expectations for 1 of South Korea's header names. Lost the shot cheaply connected respective occasions and had minimal power connected his side's attacking play.

Oh Hyeon-gyu — 5/10

Hwang Hee-chan — 5/10

Another underperformance from a subordinate South Korea had hoped could supply more. Appeared disconnected and lacking sharpness throughout, and was replaced astatine fractional time.

SUBSTITUTES

Son Heung-min — 6/10

Introduced astatine the interruption arsenic South Korea sought a effect to their mediocre first-half showing. Showed his accustomed willingness to beryllium progressive — dropping heavy for the shot and linking play — but could bash small to crook the tide.

Jens Castrop — 6/10

Kim Jin-kyu — 5/10

Park Jin-seob — 5/10

Cho Gue-sung — N/R