News Focus
- South Africa pile on late pressure but fail to find the net in stoppage time
- Makgopa creates clear opening but sends weak shot straight at Czechia keeper Kovar
- Modiba misses golden opportunity with dreadful mishit on edge of the box
- Czechia defence holds firm to claim vital three points in group stage
Czechia survived a nervous finish to claim all three points as South Africa squandered two excellent chances deep into stoppage time. With the clock showing six minutes of added time, Bafana Bafana striker Evidence Makgopa brought a long ball under control brilliantly, using his strength to hold off a defender before turning past his marker. However, the forward failed to test the goalkeeper properly, dragging a weak effort straight into the arms of Matěj Kovář.
The African side refused to give up, and moments later they crafted another opening. The ball fell kindly to Aubrey Modiba just outside the penalty area, but the midfielder completely lost his composure. Instead of striking the ball cleanly, he shinning it against his standing leg, sending the chance wide and ending his side’s hopes of a dramatic comeback.