Korea loses to South Africa to finish 3rd in World Cup group; knockout status in limbo - The Korea Times

Son Heung-min, left, reacts to a goal scored by South Africa during the teams' Group A match at the FIFA World Cup at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Mexico, June 24. Yonhap

GUADALUPE, Mexico — Korea finished third in their group at the FIFA World Cup following a 1-0 loss to South Africa in northeastern Mexico on Wednesday, sending their status for the knockout round into limbo.

Thapelo Maseko scored for South Africa in the 63rd minute and South Korea failed to respond at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, as they suffered their second defeat in Group A.

South Korea, world No. 25, finished third with three points from a win and two losses. The Taegeuk Warriors earlier defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 but fell to Mexico 1-0.

Mexico clinched the top spot in Group A with that victory, and South Korea needed a win or a draw against 60th-ranked South Africa to join Mexico in the round of 32 as the Group A runner-up.