South Africa reached the knockout phase at a World Cup for the first time on Wednesday when Thapelo Maseko`s second-half strike gave them a 1-0 win against South Korea, who can still qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.

Maseko fired the ball into the bottom corner in the 63rd minute to put South Africa, who will face co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on June 28, on four points behind Group A winners Mexico.

South Korea have three points.

South Africa had failed to advance from the group stage in their first three World Cup appearances in 1998, 2002 and 2010.