South Africa stun Korea to reach knockout phase for the first time

South Africa reached the knockout phase at a World Cup for the first time ⁠when Thapelo Maseko’s second-half strike gave them victory 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 Saturday, on four points behind Group A ‌winners Mexico who beat ⁠the Czech Republic 3-0.

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Mexico make light work of Czechia to top Group A

Co-hosts Mexico scored three second-half goals to complete a perfect group record with a 3-0 win over a disappointing Czech Republic. Goals from Mateo Chavez, Julian Quinones and Alvaro Fidalgo made it three wins out of three for Mexico and condemned the Czechs to an early exit at the foot of Group A. Denis Visinsky flashed an early effort wide for the Czech Republic, but it was a rare opening in the first half in Mexico City.

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Morocco see off spirited Haiti in six goal thriller

Morocco twice came from behind to beat Haiti 4-2 as they sealed second place in Group C. Substitute Soufiane Rahimi scored 12 minutes from time to put them ahead after Haiti had twice taken the lead in the first half, Gessime Yassine adding a fourth late on. Haiti stunned Morocco after 10 minutes with their first World Cup goal in 18,994 days, Lenny Joseph’s neat flick from a cross from Danley Jean Jacques going in off goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who was credited with the own goal.

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Scotland’s World Cup hopes in doubt after loss to Brazil

Scotland lost a second World Cup group game with a bruising 3-0 defeat to Brazil in Miami to leave their last-32 hopes up in the air. Vinicius Junior took advantage of a horror mistake by returning Scots defender Scott McKenna to give the South Americans the lead in the seventh minute and then had the ball in the net in the 20th minute, but was adjudged to have fouled Jack Hendry.

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Bosnia see off Qatar to boost knockout hopes

Bosnia and Herzegovina kept their World Cup hopes alive thanks to a stunning goal from teenager Kerim Alajbegovic which powered them towards a tense 3-1 win over Qatar on Wednesday and secured third place in Group B to eliminate their opponents. The 18-year-old Alajbegovic broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, dancing past two tackles and firing an unstoppable shot past Mahmoud Abunada from the edge of the box, sending the thousands of Bosnian fans in the stadium wild.

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