Mexico 2 – 0 South Africa

Mexico made the perfect start to their joint-home World Cup with a 2-0 win over nine-man South Africa – in a game that featured three red cards.

However, it was a forgettable World Cup debut at a rousing Azteca Stadium for South Africa midfielder Yaya Sithole, who mistimed Julián Quinones to strike home for Mexico’s first after nine minutes.

The midfielder was then given a straight red card in the second half for bringing down Brian Gutierrez through the goal, with referee Wilton Sampaio taking no time to give him his marching orders.

Frankly, Mexico should have been out of sight before the red card. Raul Jimenez was twice denied by South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, while Quinones hit the post in a dominant first half for Mexico as Bafana Bafana barely threatened.

But as nerves set in for the Azteca, Raul Jimenez put them to bed when he headed Roberto Alvarado’s cross at the back post for his first World Cup goal. Given what he’s been through with a serious head injury in 2020, it’s no surprise to see tears in his eyes.

There was even room for VAR to get involved as the video referee saw South African substitute Thembo Zawan swiping in Alvarado’s face as he tackled the ball. In the first controversial call of the tournament, referee Wilton Sampaio sent off Zwano as well.

Then Mexico defender Cesar Montes was controversially given his marching orders by Sampaio to halt the South African counterattack on the edge of the box. Despite Khalisou Madaou having a long way to go on goal, the Mexico defender was sent off in the tunnel – even after a VAR check.

Highlights from an eventful Mexico City opener…

• Pre-match: Shakira and Burna Boy headlined the first of two opening acts at Azteca Stadium
• Pre-match: At the second event, the USA flag was waved by the crowd as the flags of the 48 participating teams came out.
• 9: Goal! Sithole is pocket picked on the edge of his own box, allowing Quinones to slot home his first goal of the World Cup – and send Azteca Stadium into delirium!
• 43: Post! A second goal was denied by Quinones at the foot of the post from the same area.
• 46: Disaster! South Africa almost scored a second goal in the second half, playing back out, but Alberto Fidalgo failed to take his chance in the box.
• 50! Red card! Sithole’s afternoon went from bad to worse as Brian Gutierrez was brought down on the edge of the box as the last defender.
• 67: Goal! As the nerves began to creep in, Jimenez doubled Mexico’s lead by heading in at the far post.
• 82: VAR and red card! Video technology was used for the first time in the tournament as referee Wilton Sampaio was called to the monitor as Juan was judged to have slapped Alvarado in the face. The South African substitute was sent off.
• 90+2: Another red! Mexico defender Montes is controversially sent off for hacking down Khaliso Madau in what looks like a classic yellow card.

Neville, Keane had their say on the second and third red cards

Gary Neville and Roy Keane They had their say on whether the second and third red cards were sent off in the opening match of the World Cup.

On Jawaan’s red card, Keane said: “South Africa are disappointed with the game. And the way we used to play, you see it now: is it really violent behaviour?

“Look at the manager (reaction to the red card), it’s hard enough for a manager to compete to win football matches, but there’s no chance of self-destruction like that.”

Neville, however, responded: “He’s just going over and trying to push him away. It’s not much of a slap.

“If he had been given a yellow and a yellow for the third, we would have said it was good.”

On the third red, Neville said: “I thought it was more of a red card than a slap in the face.

“It’s lazy defending (for the third red card), he doesn’t want to go into his own box and give a penalty so I’ll give a foul on the edge of the box and take one of the team.

“It didn’t feel like a game where there were three red cards. It was the classic tackle of the 1980s, 1990s – Tony Adams and Steve Bruce used to do it all the time. They were great at it. I was being dragged into my own box, I didn’t want to give him out of the penalty for myself.

“It’s forced, but it’s basically being given to deny a goal. It’s on the edge, right on the edge considering whether he has to cross it. It was difficult to score from there.”

Keane said: “You’re 2-0 up, you’re coasting. The manager will be more disappointed with this exit than South Africa.

“I’ll give a red for that. If he (South Africa’s Madau) goes past him, he’s passing to his partner to score. It’s sheer laziness. What’s with defenders not wanting to defend? Instead of going: ‘I’m going to show you wide’, he went: ‘I’m going to kick you’.”

Analysis: The New Normal? The new rules of the game in the opening match of the World Cup

Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:

There have been plenty of trends and talking points from this opening match, from the moment we first saw the Azteca Stadium.

Loud calls for the United States flag during matches played in Canada and Mexico will raise questions about anti-American sentiment.

Speaking of the atmosphere, how England will play in a loud and smart Azteca Stadium when they face Mexico in the last 16, as predicted, could be a talking point from this opening game.

But what stands out is the new rules of the World Cup. There is a clear desire from the officials to speed up the game and reduce time wastage.

In first-half stoppage time, referee Sampaio brought Mexico up to speed and introduced the new ‘five-second rule’ – counting time on his hands when he felt the co-hosts were taking too long.

Substitutions are also much quicker, with every single player sprinting off the pitch. If players take more than 10 seconds, the outgoing player is booked.

Will these new rules make for a faster game? The jury is still out. The match also featured a three-minute water break between each half roll out – with the PA system taking the opportunity to play music out of the speakers. It’s new, but it won’t sit well with everyone.

There is no loss of time as it is added after 90 minutes. But it will be interesting to see if the teams can regain the flow of the game after the break.

The new guidelines on holding corners are still to be judged, and VAR is off to its best start yet after the departure of that controversial jawan, set to see a new form of football in the biggest World Cup ever.

What does the result mean?

Pictured: World Cup opening ceremony

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