A clinical early strike from Miroslav Sadílek wasn't enough to stifle a resilient South Africa, as Teboho Mokoena’s late penalty rescued a tense draw to sustain Group A hopes.
Heading into the second round of fixtures for Group A, both Czechia and South Africa needed a win to keep their dreams of progression alive, so naturally, it was a tense affair on all accounts.
The Bafana defence was shocked early on when Miroslav Sadílek scored his first international goal for his nation to put Miroslav Koubek's men 1-0 just six minutes in. This put Czechia in an advantageous position to secure all three points, but it also felt like they had it all to lose.
The rest of the first half was a stale affair; chances were presented for both nations' attacks, but those chances were floundered, meaning we went into the break at 1-0.
South Africa looked helpless for most of the game, relying on scraps and mistakes from Czechia to progress the ball into the final third.
A chance was finally created for Teboho Mokoena, who was brought into the central role of the midfield three to replace Sphephelo Sithole, who was sent off in the Mexico fixture.
Thapelo Maseko's strike hit the arm of Pavel Sulc on the edge of the box, and a penalty was subsequently awarded. Mokena fired home to draw level in the tie. The game started to open up towards the end, but with an obvious lack of attacking ability, neither side was succesful in scoring.
Bafana surprise with comeback
If you speak to any pundit at the BBC at today's game, they'll project to you how appalling South Africa were in this match. Though harsh, there is truth in this consensus, as South Africa was largely unsuccessful in many aspects of the game.
Hugo Broos' side went into the tournament as favourites to finish bottom of Group A, and have been fighting to prove critics wrong ever since. A disappointing first-match loss to Mexico meant there was work to be done, and there was improvement in this match, though minor.
Playing out from the back is not South Africa's strong suit, but they persist in doing so. A man-to-man pressing system from Czechia squeezed the Bafana defence, and South Africa's failure to deal with the Czech press led to a mistake from Ime Okon, and Sadílek fired home to open the scoring.
Broos changed from two recognised strikers in the Mexico game to a front-three in this one, hoping to match the width of Czechia. Though Oswin Appollis and Maseko don't possess the best ability, their relentless attacking runs and ambitious efforts in the attacking third gave South Africa enough belief to push for a goal.
Their efforts paid off as a barrage of Bafana attacks led to a penalty being awarded in the 83rd minute, and Mokena fired home to put his side level.
Broos' team smelt blood and pushed on to find a winger. After sustaining lacklustre pressure from Czechia and failing to capitalise on a number of late chances, the match ended in a draw, and both teams will now rely on results in other games to keep their round of 32 dreams alive.
Czechia left deflated
Koubek and his team would have entered this match as favourites, having enough quality across the board to propose a decent challenge, but a lack of determination from Czechia cost them three points today.
The first ten minutes went as perfectly as they possibly could for Czechia. A goal in the first six minutes and a pressing formation, which looked to have killed the confidence of South Africa early on.
The decision to go man-to-man when pressing worked a treat throughout the game, forcing Bafana to make ambitious passes and subsequently handing over possession.
Patrick Schick should've put his side in front only a minute before the Sadílek goal, when he was presented with a free header, which ended up hitting the top of his chest, which was thought to have been lost in a light in the stadium.
Czechia's hold on the game slowly slipped in the latter stages of the first half; Broos' men were presented with routes to progress up the pitch and put pressure on the Czechia defence, which managed to hold onto a 1-0 lead.
Chances thinned in the second half, and it felt like the pressure was getting to Koubek's team. Retreat into their half soon followed as they sought to protect a narrow lead.
Sulc's handball was unlucky, but the South African pressure was surely going to amount to something. After substituting Tomas Soucek and Lúkas Provod on, Koubek had used all that he had in his armoury and was now relying on a serendipitous opportunity.
Nothing followed from Czechia; the match-favourites were submitted to a 1-1 draw in a game they needed to dominate to build on confidence. Koubek's team will face Mexico next week and must rely on qualifying for the knockouts via other results.
