South Africa snatch Czechia draw after late penalt...

ATLANTA -- Teboho Mokoena started the game with tears in his eyes and finished it with a smile on his face after converting a second-half penalty in South Africa's 1-1 draw with Czechia on Thursday at the World Cup.

>Thapelo Maseko's long range shot late in the match caught the hand of Czech opponent Pavel Sulc in the area.

>Mokoena, who was shown on camera with tears rolling down his cheeks during the pre-game national anthem, stepped up to the penalty spot and sent his shot low past Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovár in the 83rd minute.

>The South Africa midfielder said he was overwhelmed before kick off, thinking about his late grandfather.

>"I know, wherever he is, he would be proud of me," Mokoena said. "I just felt his presence in that moment. I thought if he was here, he would be proud of me because I know he believed in me when nobody believed in me."

>Michal Sadílek had given the Czechs the lead in the sixth minute at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Alexandr Sojka played in Sadilek and he slid a shot past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

>Both teams lost their opening matches, and both knew another setback would seriously hinder their chances of reaching the round of 32.

>South Africa faced some strong criticism following their 2-0 loss to co-hosts Mexico, which raised the prospect of the country extending its run of never having advanced to the knockout phase of a World Cup -- even as hosts in 2010.

>"If we go on like that and if we can make another performance like today I think we have a chance to go in the second round," South Africa coach Hugo Broos said.

>South Africa will next face South Korea on Wednesday in Group A, but will be without Mokoena, who is suspended after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament.

>The Czechs lost to South Korea 2-1 in their opening match and will likely need to beat Mexico in their final game on Wednesday to advance.

>The Associated Press contributed to this report.