Monterrey: South Korea could not have picked a worse time to submit such a lackluster performance at the FIFA World Cup. Needing only a draw against South Africa in their final Group A match in northeastern Mexico, South Korea instead absorbed a 1-0 loss on a goal by Thapelo Maseko.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the result left South Korea in third place in the group with three points. They began the tournament by rallying to beat Czechia 2-1, but subsequently lost to Mexico 1-0. In the expanded, 48-team tournament, the eight best third-place teams out of 12 will progress to the knockouts. South Korea now must wait to see if they advance, with the remaining groups set to conclude their matches on Saturday across the United States.
With Mexico securing their spot in the knockouts thanks to their victory, South Korea still had a chance to advance to the round of 32 as long as they avoided losing to 60th-ranked South Africa. However, the 25th-ranked South Korean team displayed a lack of urgency, resulting in their defeat.
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo opted to hold longtime captain Son Heung-min out of the starting lineup. Son, who had started his previous 12 World Cup matches dating back to 2014, was replaced by Oh Hyeon-gyu. Despite Oh starting as the striker, he was barely visible during the goalless first half.
South Korea had a promising start to the match, with Kim Min-jae nearly scoring with a header just under two minutes into the game. However, defender Aubrey Modiba blocked the attempt on the line. Lee Kang-in also had a scoring chance in the eighth minute, but his shot narrowly missed the target.
Opportunities quickly dwindled for South Korea as South Africa gradually took control. It was a series of counterattacks for the rest of the first half, and South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu had to make crucial saves to keep his team in the game.
South Africa, needing a win alongside a Mexico victory over Czechia to finish second in Group A, displayed more determination. They capitalized on South Korea's mistakes and secured the result they needed after Mexico defeated Czechia 3-0.
Even after falling behind by a goal, South Korea showed little urgency in their play. Attacking players waited for playmaking opportunities without making off-the-ball movements, and South Africa effectively defended their lead.
Son entered the match in the second half, replacing Hwang Hee-chan, but he couldn't spark the stagnant offense. Despite repeated efforts, South Korea was unable to break through the resilient South African defense.
The outcome frustrated their fans as South Korea failed to live up to the expectations set by coach Hong, who emphasized the need to play for a win. The players, however, did not manage to meet even the minimal requirement of securing a draw.