South Africa vs. Mexico Recap

It took the South Africans, hosts of the FIFA World Cup, a good 30 to 35 minutes to get past the debut jitters and nerves. During that time, Mexico could have capitalized on at least half-dozen opportunities which were wasted by Franco and Dos Santos, including a disallowed goal for a clear off-side position.

When South Africa finally settled in the match they only had roughly 10 minutes left in the first half, but left a clear indication of the damage they could inflict upon the Mexican defense should they apply themselves. So, Mexicans and South Africans went into the locker room for the break tied at zero apiece.

In the second half South Africa was the team decided to emerge from the battle -figuratively speaking, of course- as the winner. Showing more control of the midfield through ball recovery and good distribution up the middle, the bafana-bafana tried to exploit the speed and explosiveness of Tshabalala up front. The efforts paid off when Tshabalala sent a left-footed rocket past diving surprise-starter Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez on the 55th minute. It was a superbly executed play and definition by the South Africans to send their anguished and excited nation into contagious ecstasy.

Surprisingly, South Africa continued to control the midfield and continued to create opportunities for them to extend their one-goal advantage, without much fortune. It would be Mexico, however, after three substitutions who would get on the scoreboard and tie the score on the 79' from a poorly executed South African defense off-side trap which left Mexican central defender Rafael Marquez alone in front of the goal to send his shot past keeper Khune through his near post.

It would be South Africa again who would create the last chance of the match on the 90' when forward Mphela hit the Mexican post when Perez was already beat. It would have certainly been the icing on the cake for a nation which turned en-masse to support the bafana-bafana in their world cup opener. The score would not be moved again and South Africans and Mexicans split everything evenly in a great party-like atmosphere during the opening of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.