Raul Jiménez ended his wait for a World Cup goal on his first full start for Mexico as the co-hosts coasted to a bizarre 2-0 win over South Africa that saw three red cards on opening night at the Mexico City Stadium.
Julián Quiñones got the co-hosts to the perfect start by slamming a powerful shot home after centre midfielder Sphephelo Sithole was caught taking a heavy touch 20 yards from goal, and came close to a second when he hit the base of the post.
Advertisement
Target man Jiménez headed in the second to put the game beyond doubt either side of red cards to Sithole and Themba Zwane, before César Montes was shown red for the same offence as the former’s as El Tri achieved a first win over South Africa for 26 years.
Jiménez saw the first chance go amiss when Ronwen Williams got down low to palm aside his first time shot connecting with a dangerous low ball in from the right, denying the 35-year-old Wolves forward the dream moment.
South Africa didn’t heed the early warning as Sithole took a heavy touch on the edge of his own box and was dispossessed by Érik Lira, before left midfielder Quiñones punished him with an emphatic finish.
Advertisement
Jiménez was in behind with a hint of offside as he flicked a smart ball over the top towards goal but was kept out by an Williams for a second time in the first half.
But the visitors had little time to organize themselves and appeared in need of a regroup at half time when Quiñones was picked out by another low ball into the box and he side-footed his effort against the post.
Guitiérrez had the chance to add a deserved second in stoppage time but toe-poked a tame effort wide of goal, yet Mexico were well and truly in control on home soil.
Bafana Bafana were reduced to 10 men mere moments into the second half when Sithole compounded a disastrous start to his World Cup campaign by pushing Gutiérrez to ground as the last defender, denying a clear goalscoring chance.
Advertisement
Jiménez finally put an end to his long wait for a goal at the World Cup, sending Roberto Alvarado’s pinpoint cross into the net with a bullet header from point blank range, wheeling away in tears while the fans behind the goal went into a frenzy.
Referee Wilton Sampaio was then called over to the pitch-side monitor after VAR spotted second-half substitute Zwarne appearing to take a swipe at the head of an opponent off the ball, resulting in his prompt dismissal.
But that was the not the last sending off, as the referee also dismissed Mexico centre-back Montés in additional time for a foul to the right of goal, claiming that he had teammates covering the anticipated cross into the penalty area.
South Africa, who had little penetration all game, did not improve since regaining the one-man advantage, as El Tri secured the three points to go top of Group A in the strangest World Cup game in recent memory to open the tournament.
Advertisement
Mexico’s players arrived in the capital knowing full well what their fans’ expectations were. Win the game, and win it well.
Being the hosts and kicking things off always adds an extra layer of pressure, but El Tri hadn’t beaten South Africa for nearly three decades.
Worse than that, they exited the last tournament in Qatar at the group stage, having reached the knockouts in the seven tournaments prior.
But seeing defensive midfielder Érik Lira pressing as high as South Africa’s own box, it was clear the co-hosts were evidently embracing said pressure.
Advertisement
And it proved key to the opener from Julián Quiñones, as Lira robbed Sphephelo Sithole of the ball in a dangerous position and the Al’Quadsiah striker slotted it into the net.
Quiñones outscored both Cristiano Ronaldo and Ivan Toney in the Saudi Pro League, with 33 goals to his name this season, and struck with the confidence of having done so.
Jiménez got his dream moment with all of the thousands of home fans behind him, but there was perhaps more to Mexico’s home advantage than the fans and, indeed, two reds.
At 2,200 metres above sea level, the Mexico City Stadium is considerably higher than South Africa’s national home, the FNB Stadium, making the air quite thinner than most places.
Advertisement
The Mexican players will have been well-acquainted with the environment, and took full advantage of it with their brave high press and ruthless finishing.
Now the side tipped as favourites to top Group A are off to the dream start in their third tournament on home soil.
Mexico – South Africa Live Score
