MONTERREY — South Korea’s decision to bench Son Heung-min for a must-not-lose match against South Africa backfired spectacularly. The Taegeuk Warriors, needing only a draw to secure automatic qualification, fell 1-0 to Maseko’s 63rd-minute goal. Son was introduced after the goal but could not rescue the situation. Korea now face an anxious wait to see if their 3 points and -1 goal difference will be enough for a best third-place slot.
For Asian football, this is a devastating blow. Korea, Asia’s most consistent World Cup performer, are now at the mercy of results elsewhere. The lesson: in tournament football, conservative decisions often produce the riskiest outcomes.
Group A Final Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 9 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Czechia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 |
Sources: Xinhua, Sohu