FROM PAGE 12

For the first time at a World Cup match, both head coaches were aged over 70, and the two 74-year-old managers opted to shake things up after their sides put in poor performances in their opening-game defeats.

Broos ditched his much-criticised conservative formation, while Czech boss Miroslav Koubek made five changes to his team.

Patrik Schick completely mishit a header in the opening minute as the Czechs began on the front foot and found the early goal when the South African defence was caught napping on a long throw-in.

Adam Hlozek, left unmarked up front, gathered the ball on the right and headed for the byline before pulling it back to the edge of the box where Alexandr Sojka slipped a perfect pass into Sadilek who fired a first-time shot past keeper Ronwen Williams.

South Africa lacked imagination and looked to have run out of ideas until a rather harsh handball decision was given against Pavel Sulc and Mokoena sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Teboho Mokoena picked up a yellow card, and the heartbeat of South Africa’s midfield will miss his side’s final group game.

The contest also marked a landmark moment for football officiating, with an all-American all-female refereeing crew officiating a men’s World Cup match for the first time in this edition – overall second.

Both hydration breaks were roundly booed by the crowd inside the air-conditioned Atlanta Stadium with its roof closed, which served as protection from the heavy rain and not the Georgia summer heat and humidity.

The jeers did come to a halt, however, once ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ was blasted over the stadium speakers sparking an enthusiastic sing-along.