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South Africa held its breath — then found air in one defining World Cup strike
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- South Africa held its breath — then found air in one defining World Cup strike
ATLANTA ― A nation exhaled. A dream realized. A tournament run extended. South Africa's first World Cup goal in sixteen years carried an unimaginable amount of hope.
With under 10 minutes remaining in regulation Thursday, June 18, fans began to get anxious in the stands of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, clapping to rally their team. The score was 1-0 Czechia , and scoring from South Africa was nonexistent ― until it wasn't. A Pavel Sulc foul, resulting in a penalty kick provided a glimmer of daylight and a chance for South Africa to pull even.
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With 67,442 fans filling the venue with a thundering chorus of screams, Teboho Mokoena , placed the ball on the nearby marker, strategizing his next move. He let out a slow, deep breath and closed his eyes. Head coach Hugo Broos covered his face in agony and waited with bated breath as Mokoena wound up to take the kick.
"I saw the keeper move on the left. I just (thought) to myself, I'm going to put it down on the right, with power, and what happens (happens)," Mokoena told reporters on site.
Pay dirt.
At the 83rd minute, South Africa clawed out of the depths of defeat with a punishing goal.
South African penalty kick
With a single kick, Mokoena unleashed South Africa's first goal since June 22, 2010, when Katlego Mphela scored in the 37th minute against France . It was the missing piece after South Africa dropped its World Cup opener to Mexico 2-0.
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Mokoena immediately ran around the pitch in jubilation, pointing to his chest and then to the ground before promptly lacing his hands together and placing them over his chest, a nod to two Cristiano Ronaldo celebrations ."I was just praying to God that he let us score that penalty because, you know, we really needed the goal there. I'm very thankful that we did," South Africa forward Thapelo Maseko said, smiling after the match.
South Africa had 17 total attempts on goal Thursday; just four were on target despite heavy ball movement. The Bafana Bafana completed 87% of their passes and had five corners and 13 free kicks. Still, none of it was enough to get on the scoreboard until Mokoena's goal."(It was) just more of a relief. I thought we could get another goal. Unfortunately, that was not on our side, but we can be proud as a team. The way we played. The way we showed up. The way we were confident on the goal," Mokoena said. "The supporters who kept on cheering for us, they gave us strength when we were down. I think the team played so well today."
"Just to keep going. Keep going and keep pushing. Eventually, we're gonna get the chances. We know the quality of our players," Maseko said of South Africa's offensive challenges.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 18: Teboho Mokoena #4 of South Africa scores a penalty for his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between Czechia and South Africa at Atlanta Stadium on June 18, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
South Africa's journey in the World Cup hasn't been without obstacles. Two players were shown red cards during its match against Mexico , including Themba Zwane , who received a three-match ban. On Thursday, South Africa added to its woes with two yellow cards. One yellow card awarded to Mokoena comes with a hefty price.
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The 29-year-old will have to miss South Africa's next match against South Korea on June 24 (9:00 p.m. ET) after picking up his second yellow card during the World Cup. Mokoena was asked if his asked he thought his absence would impact the team or if he had let them down. But the South African midfielder remained undaunted.
"No, I didn't let the team down. What I did, I was doing for the team. I know my team would have definitely (done) it for the team also. We have all been playing. They will represent us as South Africans. We need everyone," he said. "There's so many guys who can play in that role … We are confident as a team, and I think we grew in the tournament."
After South Africa's late goal, the team is still alive in group play, but it could face elimination, pending the results of remaining Group A games.
However, if South Africa's World Cup journey ends soon, Mokoena, who openly sobbed, letting tears stream down his face as his country's national anthem played Thursday, knows it was all worth it.
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"I was overwhelmed. I was thinking about my late grandfather. I know wherever he is, he'll be proud of me. Just felt his presence in that moment. I thought if he was here, he would be proud of me because I know he believed in me when nobody else believed in me," Mokoena said."(I was also thinking about) my mom, my son, my people who believed in me. That was so emotional thinking that 'We're playing in the World Cup, sold out ... Never thought as a kid (I'd) be here ... I was emotional, and yeah, man. You know, it's a dream come true. I'm living my dream as a kid from Bethlehem, (South Africa)."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inside the moment a South African penalty kick ended a 16-year World Cup drought
