Teboho Mokoena struck from the spot in the 83rd minute to earn South Africa a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic on Thursday, rescuing a crucial point after a difficult contest.
The Czech Republic made a flying start, with Michal Sadílek scoring in the sixth minute to net the fastest goal of the 2026 World Cup so far and put his side in early control.
South Africa struggled to break through for much of the game as the Czech Republic adopted a more defensive shape in the second half.
Although the Europeans ceded possession, the African side found it hard to create clear chances and failed to register a shot on target until the closing stages.
The breakthrough came in the 81st minute when Thapelo Maseko’s effort struck the arm of Czech Republic midfielder Pavel Šulc inside the box.
After a VAR review confirmed the handball, the referee awarded South Africa a penalty.
The midfielder, Mokoena kept his composure from 12 yards, sending goalkeeper Matěj Kovář the wrong way with a confident finish to level the score.
The draw offers South Africa a valuable response after their opening defeat to Mexico, while the Czech Republic also continue to search for momentum following their loss to South Korea in their previous outing.
The match also made history with an all-American female officiating team, Tori Penso, Brooke Mayo, and Kathryn Nesbitt, becoming the first female crew to take charge of a men’s World Cup fixture.
