Bafana roar back: Mokoena penalty stuns Czechia in Atlanta fightback
The Mt Kenya Times 
By Norman Mwale
“The Czechia team is very powerful, but my side pushed well to have an equaliser. With this evening’s performance, we can win over South Korea.” Hugo Broos, South Africa Coach
South Africa roared back from an early setback to stun Czechia with a late equaliser and leave Atlanta Stadium with a hard-fought 1-1 draw on Thursday night. A sixth-minute strike from Sadilek looked set to hand the hosts victory, but Theboko Mokoena’s powerful 80th-minute penalty ensured Bafana Bafana finished the stronger side after seven minutes of added time. Mokoena was named man of the match for his composure under pressure and decisive intervention.
The Czechs struck first when Sadilek finished clinically from a right-wing cross in the 6th minute, catching South Africa cold. “We started the game with intensity and got the goal we wanted,” a Czechia team official said afterwards. “To concede so late from a penalty is disappointing, but we must take the point.” South Africa struggled to respond before the interval and went into the break trailing 1-0 despite winning their second corner in the 35th minute, which came to nothing. The first half ended with four minutes added on and both Theboko Mokoena and Mbatha already in the referee’s notebook following mistimed challenges, the latter for a dangerous foul lifted over the bar.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos made his first change early in the second half, bringing Mofokeng on for Adams as South Africa chased the game. The substitution injected energy down the flanks and the visitors grew in confidence. Ladislav was cautioned for Czechia in the 73rd minute as pressure mounted, and seven minutes later the breakthrough arrived. Mokoena, already booked in the 32nd minute, stepped up from the penalty spot in the 80th minute and drove the ball powerfully into the net, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. “I am very proud and excited, the way we played, we were confident on the ball. I am proud of the team,” Mokoena said. “I just had to keep my composure and hit it hard. We showed character. No one believed we could come back after that early goal, but this team never gives up.”
Czechia pushed for a winner during seven minutes of added time but South Africa defended resolutely to secure a deserved point. The result leaves both sides with work to do in the group, though Bafana’s resilience will give them belief ahead of their next fixture. “We showed spirit and we showed quality,” a South Africa official said. “To come from a goal down away from home and take a point, that is the mentality we need. The lads deserve credit.” For Czechia, the early goal and Ladislav’s late yellow summed up a night of missed opportunities. “We controlled the first half, but football is 90 minutes plus,” the Czech official added. “We must learn to close games out.”
*Score line:* Czechia 1-1 South Africa
*Scorers:* Sadilek 6’ Czechia; Mokoena 80’ pen South Africa
*Man of the Match:* Theboko Mokoena, South Africa
*Cards:* Theboko Mokoena 32’ South Africa; Mbatha South Africa; Ladislav 73’ Czechia
*Substitution:* Mofokeng on, Adams off South Africa, second half
*Corners:* Czechia 1, South Africa 2
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