2010 World Cup Mexico v Uruguay half time report
Mexico 0 Uruguay 1
Any fears of a conspiracy between the two sides that this game would end as a draw to cement their place in the second round could be squashed after a competitive first half in Rustenburg.
Uruguay stole the advantage late-on thanks to a Luis Suarez header and it was probably just deserved on the balance of play.
As it stands, both teams are still qualifying for the last 16, but as South Africa are winning 2-0 against France in the other group game, the host nation are only two goals behind Mexico on goal difference.
Despite falling behind late-on, Mexico started brightly, with Cuauhtemoc Blanco pulling the strings just off the striker but the first chance fell to the current leaders of the group.
A mistake in the Mexican backline by Francisco Rodriguez let in 35-goal Ajax striker Luis Suarez, who, from a tight angle narrowly shot wide with Oscar Perez beaten.
Uruguay continued their early pressure as Mauricio Victorino headed a free header over from a corner and Alvaro Pereira fired wide when he had Diego Forlan free in the middle.
Mexico started to grow into the game mid-way through the half and Andres Guardado came closest to breaking the deadlock with a rasping 30-yard drive that hammered the under-side of the crossbar and bounced to safety.
It sort of summed up Mexico’s first half with a lack of ideas in the final third resulting in Guardado taking a pot-shot that very nearly came off.
With the first half seemingly petering out into a draw, Suarez steered in an Edinson Cavani centre to give South Africa a glimmer of hope of qualifying from what seemed an impossible situation.
As the Bafana Bafana are feasting on a depleted French carcass in the other game in Group A, it could prove catastrophic if Mexico conceded another.
Expect Mexico to step it up in the second period.
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