South Africa’s positivity and ability to find a moment of quality when they needed it most has seen them claim a first-ever place in the knockout rounds of the World Cup following a deserved 1-0 win over South Korea in Monterrey.
The victory takes Bafana Bafana to second place in Group A and will see them take on co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday, a game they will feel is winnable if they can be anywhere near their best.
It is another feather in the cap for coach Hugo Broos, who extends his stay in the job for one more game at least, and writes his name into history as the first man to get Bafana to the World Cup knockouts.
Here is how he and the team pulled it off.
THE SET-UP
The loss of Teboho Mokoena due to suspension was a blow to the side and it did require a slight tweak in formation, but Broos largely kept to his 4-3-3.
Yaya Sithole played as a shield in front of the back four, with Thalente Mbatha a little more advanced, and Relebohile Mofokeng shining in the playmaking role, albeit also from a deeper position than he would be used to.
Thapelo Maseko was a livewire on the right wing and provided the goal as he cut inside onto his more favoured left foot, with Evidence Makgopa chosen as the No 9 striker, a role he performed well.
There are only three out-and-out strikers in the team and each has now had a start, with Lyle Foster playing in the first game and Iqraam Rayners starting the second.
It is the formation Bafana are most comfortable with and again speaks to the folly of the disastrous ‘five at the back’ they tried in the opening game against Mexico.
POSITIVITY
There was only really one team trying to win this game from the start and that was South Africa.
The Koreans were passive and created next to nothing in the game, only sparking to life in the final 10 minutes. They could still go through but must rely on results elsewhere.
Bafana needed the win to stand a chance of advancing, so it was perhaps no surprise they were the more positive team, with the Koreans knowing a draw would be enough for them.
But it was still heartwarming to see a Bafana side going for it, trying to be positive and putting pressure on their opponents.
Such a pleasant change from the opening one-and-a-half matches of the tournament, and proof they are learning quickly at this level.
They only retreated into their shell in the final 15 minutes and perhaps that was the right tactic for that moment, despite some heart-stopping moments.
But this team is so much better when they try and ‘play’, because that is where their skillset lies, rather than trying to contain teams.
MASEKO ON THE RIGHT
Bringing Maseko into this team has been a masterstroke and it still makes you wonder what Mamelodi Sundowns have been thinking to discard such a talent.
He has been a breath of fresh air and while he does not get everything right, he at least takes players on and tries to beat a defender. He is the kind of player the opposition needs to always watch and worry about.
He came through in professional football as a left winger, but has been asked to play on the right in this tournament to accommodate Oswin Appollis on the other side.
Again, there is no problem with that and it worked well for his goal as he took a touch with his left foot, cut inside and fired low into the bottom corner of the net.
He was the best attacking player on the pitch all game and if he could just get a little better with his decision-making, he will be some talent.
Hard to think that he is still only 22 years old.
REDEMPTION FOR SITHOLE
The loss of Mokoena meant that Sithole was always likely to get the nod to start after serving his one-game suspension for a red card against Mexico.
He is not the prettiest of players, but is a physical presence in the centre of the park and is not afraid to put his boot in.
This Bafana side can at times lack physicality, but he provides it over the other midfield options for this game, Jayden Adams and Mbatha.
When Mokoena comes back in for the Canada game, expect Sithole to keep his place and be the bully in midfield, while the former acts more as a box-to-box player.
EXCELLENT FULL-BACKS
Left-back Aubrey Modiba can be a little sloppy in defence, but on this occasion was superb, both with those duties and going forward as he put in some excellent crosses.
On the other side is the Rolls Royce in the team, Khuliso Mudau, who if he was a few years younger would no doubt be snapped up by some European team after this World Cup.
He was superb in defence with some telling tackles, a high work-rate and willingness to get forward. He is also a calming influence at the back.
He is perhaps behind Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi as the best right-back from the African continent, but he has few other peers and is a simply magnificent player.
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