Thapelo Maseko's second-half goal lifted South Africa to a must-win 1-0 result against South Korea in their Group A finale in Guadalupe, Mexico, on Wednesday, sending Bafana Bafana to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.
Maseko put South Africa in front in the 63rd minute with a clinical finish, burying a shot from his favored left foot to the right corner after a precision pass by Tshepang Moremi.
Ronwen Williams preserved the lead with a save on Park Jin-seob's header in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.
South Korea (1-2-0, 3 points) needed a win or draw to finish runner-up to Mexico and advance to the round of 32.
South Africa (1-1-1, 4 points) had to win and have Czech Republic lose to Mexico in the concurrent match to claim the second spot. Mexico (3-0-9, 9 points) logged a 3-0 win over the Czechs (0-2-1, 1 points), and when the hosts' 1-0 lead was posted in the Guadalupe stadium in the 55th minute, the South African fans joined the Mexicans in attendance in celebrating.
South Africa was written off by many after losing the opening match of the World Cup 2-0 to Mexico while having two players sent off.
The South Africans had failed to get out of the group stage in their previous World Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2010.
South Korea still have a chance to advance in the event as one of the best third-place teams, but they will need other results to go their way.
South Korea started as if it were playing for the win with several forays into the penalty area in the first three minutes but soon fell into a conservative mode. That change allowed the underdog South Africans to have the better of the play for the remainder of the first half.
If not for three saves by Kim Seung-gyu and poor finishing, South Africa could have carried a lead into halftime.
South Korea's Kim Min-jae's header in the third minute was cleared off the line by Aubrey Modiba, but after that it was all South Africa.
South Africa had two chances in the 30th minute, only to have Kim make back- to-back stops.
First, Thalente Mbatha found space at the top of the box and put a well-driven strike on target. Kim made the save but spilled the rebound. Evidence Makgopa, who barely managed to stay onside, collected the rebound at the 6-yard box, but Kim was in perfect position for the denial.
