The world cup opener between South Africa and Mexico was supposed to be a cracker of a contest between two outsiders who were hoping to get through to the round of 16. But what started as a energetic encounter soon panned out to be a damp contest with mexico missing too many chances to take the lead and the Bafana Bafana struggling to mark franco and offering too much space for the mexicans to push forward.
The mexicans would have been ahead within 2 mins of start but for Aaron Mokoena. The souh african captain got his body across to stop the goal bound shot from Giovani Dos Santos. A few minutes later, Steven pienar wasted one of the best chances by sending a 25 yard free kick well over the mexican bar. Dos santos was not very happy with the way things were going and starting getting involved more into the game. The galatasaray forward was at the heart of every good mexican move and was a constant threat at the goal with his long range shots and mazy runs. The midfield was now being entirely dictated by the latin americans who were looking the more likelier side to break the deadlock.
The game took a turn in the 22nd minute when Oscar Perez(the mexican keeper), was all nerves when he fumbled to collect a simple cross from pienaar. Fortunately for him, there was no mexican around to capitalize on his error. But that started a period of constant nerves that didnt seem to settle down at all for the mexican stopper. He was fumbling and mumbling all through the half and looked very uncomfortable at the goal.
His south african counterpart, Itumeleng Khune was having problems of his own with a brilliant Vela and a bustling Dos santos kept him every bit busy. He wasnt helped too much by his wayward defence either as they continued to leaving gaping holes to let the mexicans run riots. The mexicans would have gone up but for a correct offside against Vela as Khune went flapping at a corner and the mexican tapped in into an empty goal.
The south africans recovered a bit to attack back in the final minutes of the first half but found it missing at the final third of the pitch.
They continued from where they left off at the first half and a brilliant true ball from Teko modise found the onrushing kshabalala at the edge of the mexican box and he unleashed an unstoppable cross box shot that perez could do nothing about! The home crowd erupted in joy and the bafana bafana were ahead thanks to the gaping holes the mexicans had left back in their zeal to push numbers forward.
Javier Aguirre responded by throwing on Andres Guardado for Aguilar. It was Dos Santos, though, who continued to torment the home defence and he again drew a fine save from Khune with a strike from the right that was turned away for a corner. The home side though had more confidence now, thanks to the goal and Modise should have done better when he Mphela's shot was deflected into his path six yards out - but he inexplicably turned effort wide.
The mexicans started to push forward with purpose with blanco replacing vela and hernandez taking over from franco. It was Guardado's cross from the left that left the home defence gaping and Marquez took a touch before firing in.
Oscar Perez was still not done having his horror time at the goal. At the dying minutes, as Mphela outpaced rodriguez, perez was in two minds and finally decided to come out. By that time, mphela had placed a shot at the bottom corner only to see the post playing the last man and deny him to see a promising contest on paper coming to a damp end!
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