History was made for South Africa on Tuesday night as Bafana Bafana reached the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time with a 1-0 victory over South Korea in Monterrey.
For the third straight match, Philadelphia Union defender Olwethu Makhanya was available off the bench, as South Africa entered its Group A finale needing a victory to secure advancement. Thapelo Maseko's second-half strike proved to be the difference, with Bafana Bafana holding firm over the final half hour to book a place in the Round of 32.
With South Africa’s advancement, Makhanya became the first active Philadelphia Union player in club history to make it out of the group stage with his team at FIFA World Cup. The milestone adds another chapter to the Union’s presence on soccer’s biggest stage, with five others with Phialdelphia Union ties featuring at this year's tournament.
South Africa will face Group B runner-up Canada on Sunday, June 28th, in Los Angeles. The Round of 32 matchup will mark the first FIFA World Cup knockout match in the history of both nations, with a place in the Round of 16 on the line.
