Late penalty gifts South Africa first point against wasteful Czech Republic

Teboho Mokoena's late penalty gifted South Africa their first point of the World Cup after wasteful Czech Republic failed to make their chances pay in a 1-1 draw in Atlanta.

The Bafana Bafana were desperate for a response from their despondent opening-game defeat to Mexico but looked sluggish and short of ideas throughout until Pavel Sulc's inadvertent but clear handball nine minutes from time allowed Mokoena to earn them a point from the spot.

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They had trailed since the sixth minute to Michal Sadilek's smart finish but could have been ahead even before that, with Patrik Schick miscuing a presentable header with just 50 seconds on the clock.

South Africa's best chance prior to their goal, a blocked effort from Thapelo Maseko, came when Matej Kovar spilled a cross with Hugo Broos' side struggling to create chances and failing to test the Czech goalkeeper to that point.

They should have been further behind moments after the break when Vladimir Darida was found unmarked in the box but a heavy touch allowed Ime Okon to get back, before Schick nodded a free header straight at Ronwen Williams.

But Mokoena's late leveller, and a late flurry of half-chances which followed for South Africa, leaves Group A blown right open with both they and Czech Republic still able to amass four points and finish at least third, which would be highly likely to see them into the last 32.

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