South Africa v Mexico full-time report
South Africa 1 Mexico 1
An equaliser from Mexico’s Rafael Marquez ensured that hosts South Africa had to settle for a point in a lively opening match of the 2010 World Cup.
Marquez popped up at the back post from a Gerardo Torrado cross just 11 minutes from time, after being played onside by the hosts’ captain Aaron Mokoena.
South Africa’s Siphiwe Tshabalala had earlier hit the opening goal of the tournament, latching onto a through ball 10 minutes into the second half before powering a sublime left foot shot into the top corner of the net.
The Mexicans had dominated the first period, with striker Carlos Vela having a goal disallowed, fellow forward Guillermo Franco missing two good openings and Giovani dos Santos going close, but they were unable to repeat that dominance in the second period, with South Africa’s Katlego Mphela hitting the post in the final minute.
A point from this opening Group A match was probably all that the hosts’ deserved though, and Mexico will feel as though their performance merited collecting all three.
In the first half, Arsenal forward Vela thought he had profited from an error by South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune from a corner, only to be rightly flagged offside.
Mexico were dominating, with Guillermo Franco missing two gilt-edged chances, drawing an excellent close range save from Khune and heading over from a free kick.
In the games early moments, Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena had to make a last ditch challenge to thwart the lively dos Santos, who would later be denied by an excellent save from Khune.
In truth the hosts offered little in the first period, although Steven Pienaar did hit a free kick over the bar, and forward Mphela just missed connecting with a Tshabalala cross late in the half.
The winger’s goal was sufficient reward for the hosts’ improved start to the second period, but Mexico will consider this as two points dropped.
The introductions of veteran Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Manchester United’s new signing Javier Hernandez failed to inspire Javier Aguirre’s side, who couldn’t turn possession into goals.
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