2026 World Cup: Czechia and South Africa play out a draw that helps nobody
Neither Czechia nor South Africa managed to get their campaign moving. Meeting on Thursday in Atlanta, Georgia, on Matchday 2 in Group A, the two sides shared a 1-1 draw that does little for either of them. Everything is still up for grabs heading into the final round.
The Czechs thought for a long time they had their first win of the tournament in the bag. But by dropping deeper and deeper, they ended up throwing away two points against a South Africa side that never stopped believing.
Czechia struck early, South Africa took its time to hit back
The opening spell belonged to the Europeans. After a move built down the right, Michal Sadilek opened the scoring with a left-footed strike in the early minutes. It was the ideal start for the Reprezentace.
For a while, the Bafana Bafana looked under pressure. Then the ball began to turn their way. More tidy in possession, the South Africans started to spend more time in the opposition half. They still did not really trouble Matej Kovar, though, lacking the final-ball quality in the danger areas.
At the other end, the Czechs could not find a second goal either. The score stayed the same until half-time, leaving the game wide open.
The turning point came late on
After the restart, the pattern stayed much the same. South Africa tried to up the tempo, while Czechia gradually settled for protecting its lead.
A decision that eventually cost them. A few minutes from time, a handball by Pavel Sulc inside the box handed the visitors a penalty. Teboho Mokoena made no mistake from the spot to level things up.
South Africa even finished stronger and pushed right to the end in search of a winner. No luck. Czechia, meanwhile, were mostly focused on hanging onto the point, even if it guarantees them nothing.
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It will all be decided in the final round
This result leaves both teams in limbo. After two matches, neither has truly got its tournament off the ground.
The picture is simple before the last game: win or go home. In a group where every point now matters, another slip could well end Czechia’s and South Africa’s hopes of qualification.
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Photo credit: William Volcov (Brazil Photo Press via AFP)
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