FIFA World Cup

CZE Czechia Czechia - RSA South Africa South Africa

Czechia Czechia

South Africa South Africa

83'
T. Mokoena

M. Sadilek
6'

Atlanta Stadium(67,442 Spectators)

Mary Victoria Tori Penso

Full-time: Czechia 1-1 South Africa

The final whistle goes, and the spoils are shared in Atlanta. Czechia scored early and dominated large chunks of the match, but the South Africans gradually gained a foothold in the match and finally snatched an equaliser in the 83rd minute via Mokoena's penalty kick. In the last few minutes, both sides could have grabbed a winner, but a draw was probably a fair result overall.

End of second half

Full-time

90'

+ 6

Huge chance for South Africa!

Makgopa makes space for himself and shoots, but it's straight at Kovář!

90'

+ 5

Provod shoots wide!

The match has got a bit ragged now as both sides hunt for a winner.

90'

+ 3

Great defending by Mokoena!

The Czechs work their way through the South African defence, but just when it starts to look rather dangerous, Mokoena steps in and deals with the threat!

90'

We've got seven mins of added time

It's anybody's game now as we enter stoppage time.

89'

Mofokeng tests Kovář

The Czech 'keeper makes the save at the second attempt!

85'

That's Makoena's 10th international goal...

....in 54 appearances.

84'

Substitution

Kamogelo Sebelebele

Thapelo Maseko

And we're level!!

Mokoena fires home the spot-kick and it's 1-1 in Atlanta!

83'

Teboho Mokoena

GOAL!

1:1

Penalty

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

82'

Penalty kick to South Africa!

Maseko's drive hits the arm of Šulc just inside the box. South Africa have a penalty late on!

80'

South Africans probing

With just ten minutes of normal time to go, the South Africans are spraying the ball around from flank to flank, trying to find a way of piercing this obstinate Czech defence.

78'

Substitution

David Zima

Lukáš Červ

76'

Clear yellow for Krejčí

The Czech receives a caution for bundling over Maseko. The ensuing South African free-kick comes to nothing.

75'

Yellow card

Ladislav Krejčí

74'

Appollis hits the byline...

..but his cross is cleared by the Czechia back line.

72'

Back at it!

Play is back underway.

69'

Water break

There'll be a short hiatus as the players grab some liquids.

67'

Substitution

Lukas Provod

Adam Hložek

67'

Substitution

Tomáš Souček

Michal Sadilek

66'

Substitution

Evidence Makgopa

Iqraam Rayners

Rayners finding life tough

The South African forward has been shut down by the Czech defence today, and has not managed a shot on goal. It's looking likely he'll be substituted shortly.

63'

Although it's only 1-0...

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

...there's a pretty stark difference in the xG category.

xGoals

1.11

0.38

Goals

61'

Nice interplay from the Czechs

After some neat passing, Sadilek finds himself with a shooting chance, but it's well blocked by the South African rearguard.

55'

Substitution

Jaroslav Zelený

Alexandr Sojka

55'

Substitution

Pavel Šulc

Vladimír Darida

54'

Some nice passing by South Africa...

...ends in a wayward shot by Maseko.

50'

Big chance!

Schick gets his head on the end of the latest corner but directs it right at Williams!

48'

Czechs pushing!

Darida's shot is blocked brilliantly by Okon, before Červ's shot is tipped over the bar!

46'

The second half is underway

Can the Czechs find a second goal and seal the win, or will the South Africans turn the match - and their World Cup hopes - around?

Kick-off!

Half-time: Czechia 1-0 South Africa

The Czechs lead at the half through Sadilek's early strike. After that goal went in, it appeared that they might run away with the game, but the South Africans came back into things as the match progressed, without really creating any viable chances. They'll need to step up a gear in the second half!

45'

+ 5

Substitution

Relebohile Mofokeng

Jayden Adams

Half-time

45'

+ 5

South Africa threaten!

Modiba plays a ball into the Czech box that Kovář spills, giving Maseko a chance to shoot inside the box. Krejčí is alert to the danger, though, and makes a great block.

45'

+ 1

Four mins of added time...

...to play in Atlanta.

45'

Mokoena from a long way out

The holding midfielder tries his luck from long range, but the ball is always rising and it goes over.

Hložek fires over

The Hoffenheim man takes the resulting free-kick, but the poor attempt flies high into the stands.

40'

Mbatha sees yellow

The South African is booked for a foul on Schick.

40'

Yellow card

Thalente Mbatha

39'

Bit of a lull

There's not been much action post-water break. Both sides are struggling to do much with the ball in the final third of the pitch.

33'

First yellow

Today's referee, Tori Penso from the United States, who is only the second female to hold the whistle at a men's World Cup, shows her first yellow card of the day - it goes to South Africa's Mokoena for a late challenge on Červ.

33'

Yellow card

Teboho Mokoena

South Africa look a bit more settled now

They're battling hard for the ball and looking for ways through the Czech defence.

27'

Back underway

The action has resumed in Georgia.

23'

Hydration break

We'll have a brief break now as the teams take on some fluids.

22'

At the halfway point in the first half...

...we've had two attempts on goal each, with the Czechs' on-target effort the difference between the teams so far.

Goal attempts

2off target

1on target

2off target

0on target

17'

South Africa coming into the game

South Africa work the ball to Rayners in the middle, but he's unable to get a good contact on the cross, and it goes behind for a goal kick.

13'

Rare foray

South Africa make a rare incursion into the Czech half: Appolis tries a long-range effort, but it's deflected wide for a corner (which eventually comes to nothing). Better from Hugo Broos' men, though.

There's the opener!

It was coming! Hložek plays the ball to the edge of the 18-yard box, where Sadilek exchanges passes with Sojka before firing low past Williams!

Michal Sadilek

GOAL!

1:0

Assist:A. Sojka

Goal probability

19 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11.89 m

Czechs have started well

The European side have made the better start, earning a couple of corners. The South Africans are struggling a bit.

Early chance!

What an opportunity for the Czechs early on - Schick has a free header from a deep cross, but he gets his timing wrong and nods the ball tamely wide.

We're underway!

Czechia get the ball rolling in Atlanta!

Kick-off!

Players out

The players are on the pitch and the national anthems are playing. We're moments away from kick-off!

25 minutes to kick-off

The crowd - and atmosphere - continues to build up nicely for this one.

More on that South Africa line-up

South Africa have to make do without Sithole and Zwane, who were sent off against Mexico. Mbatha, Maseko and Rayners come in, while Sibisi and Foster are left out.

More on that Czechia line-up

Czechia head coach Koubek makes five changes to the team that lost 2-1 to South Korea, including bringing in Hoffenheim's Hložek, which means that four Bundesliga players will take to the pitch for the Czechs in Atlanta.

Starting line-up: South Africa

South Africa subs

Chaine, Cross, Foster, Goss, Kabini, Makgopa, Makhanya, Mataludi, Mofokeng, Moremi, Ndamane, Sebelebele, Sibisi

Starting line-up: Czechia

Czechia subs

Chaloupek, Chory, Chytil, Doudera, Hornicek, Kuchta, Provod, Sochurek, Soucek, Stanek, Visinksy, Zeleny, Zima, Sulc

Last time out: Czechia

Patrick Schick & Co. fell to a 2-1 defeat to Korea Republic on Matchday 1, having initially taken the lead through Ladislav Krejčí's header.

Last time out: South Africa

South Africa also fell to defeat in their first game as Mexico ran out 2-0 winners in the tournament opener. Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off, meaning they're suspended on Matchday 2.

Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 involvement

Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Hranáč, Vladimír Coufal and Adam Hložek (all Hoffenheim) are all represented Czechia at the tournament. For South Africa, Hannover defender Ime Okon (pictured) is the only player plying his trade in Germany.

Welcome

Follow all of the action as Czechia take on South Africa in Group A of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the game kicking off at 6.00pm CEST in Atlanta, Georgia.