MEXICO CITY: Hosts Mexico made a commanding start to the biggest-ever edition of the FIFA World Cup with a convincing 2–0 victory over nine-man South Africa on Thursday at the iconic Estadio Azteca, setting the tone for a vibrant opening day of the tournament.
The co-hosts wasted no time igniting celebrations inside the historic stadium, as Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament in the ninth minute, finishing calmly with a low strike that slipped through the legs of South Africa captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The early breakthrough sent the 80,824-strong crowd into a deafening roar, with the famous Azteca atmosphere further intensified by red, green, and white pre-match fireworks creating a hostile environment for the visitors.
South Africa, visibly unsettled by the occasion, struggled to settle into rhythm as Mexico dictated the tempo and dominated possession.
South Africa’s problems deepened before halftime as Sphephelo Sithole was caught in possession during a defensive error that led to the opening goal.
His difficult afternoon worsened after the break when he was sent off in the 49th minute for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity by fouling Brian Gutierrez.
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With a numerical advantage, Mexico pressed forward and doubled their lead in the 67th minute. A swift counterattack ended with Roberto Alvarado delivering a precise cross for veteran striker Raúl Jiménez, who headed home at the far post to strengthen Mexico’s control of the match.
South Africa’s discipline continued to collapse under pressure, and matters worsened further in the 84th minute when Themba Zwane was shown a red card following a VAR review for an elbow incident involving Alvarado, leaving the visitors with just nine players.
Despite their dominance, Mexico also ended the match with ten men after defender César Montes received a late red card for a clumsy challenge on Khulisa Mudau near the edge of the penalty area, adding a final twist to an otherwise one-sided encounter.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos had earlier warned of the intimidating atmosphere at the Azteca, and his side ultimately struggled to cope with the intensity as Mexico’s fans repeatedly erupted with chants of “Olé” after every fluent passage of play.
With this victory, Mexico begin their Group A campaign on a strong note, collecting three points alongside South Korea after the opening round of fixtures, while South Africa are left to regroup following a difficult and disciplinary-ridden start to their World Cup journey.
