South Africa vs Mexico, 2010 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage
· FIFA World Cup
About
South Africa are hosting Mexico
at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa, starting on
. The match is a part of the FIFA World Cup.
Match Commentary
- 0': Hello and welcome to the first game of the World Cup.
- 0': South Africa have an array of Premier League stars in the team, with Everton's Steven Pienaar they key man. Aaron Mokoena also slots in at right back while Fulham midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi gets a start.
- 0': Mexico also have a number of high-profile stars, with Barcelona's Rafael Marquez in central midfield and Gio Franco, Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela all providing attacking options.
- 0': The teams are now out on the field in front of a packed and very colourful Soccer City Stadium in Jo'burg.
- 0': Mexico have looked impressive under Javier Aguirre, so it'll be interesting to see how the hosts fare.
- 0': If fan power counts for anything, South Africa will have a 12th and a 13th man.
- 0': The South Africa coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, of course, has already won this tournament with his native Brazil in 1994, so he knows what he's doing.
- 0': The captains, Mokeona and Torrado, shake hands ahead of the kick off and the 2010 World Cup is about to get underway.
- 1': It may be a little late, but Mexico kick off and the South African World Cup begins!
- 1': Mexico look to get something a bit intricate underway, but the attack is broken down with a great hoof.
- 2': Gio dos Santos nearly opens the scoring! The cross comes in, Khune can't gather and Gio can't turn it in! Corner kick.
- 2': The corner's cleared. Great start for Mexico but a bit of a worry for the hosts so early on...
- 4': Giovani's looked in fine form at the start of this. Seems Spurs may have underestimated the little man.
- 6': South Africa could really do with establishing a bit of control here. The altitude may help them as the game wears on, but probably won't if they're 3-0 down.
- 7': A bit of encouragement for South Africa! They break away and the crowd roars, although Khumalo's cross wasn't up to much.
- 9': Another South Africa attack starts up and breaks down. Still, much better.
- 11': It's much more even now, thankfully. South Africa may have just shaken off a few early nerves.
- 13': Marquez goes down in a heap after a Pienaar tackle, but he seems to be fine.
- 14': Aguilar might have had a penalty there as he skipped over Thwala's tackle, but he stayed on his feet and the South Africa defender got in a much better tackle to force it out for a corner.
- 15': Gio Franco shows his West Ham form to head the corner miles over. He could easily have scored there.
- 16': South Africa win a free-kick as Tshabalala is brought down by Salcido. Mexico were wide open there and, to be honest, South Africa should have made more of the opportunity.
- 17': With the vuvuzelas blaring like never before, Pienaar steps up and fires the free-kick over the bar.
- 17': He could probably claim he was distracted by the vuvuzelas there. It's like being in a beehive.
- 18': Juarez gets a booking for a handball, but he was clearly trying to chest it. The hosts have another chance to put it into the box.
- 19': ...and the free-kick is cleared, allowing little Giovani to race away and fire a fierce effort just over.
- 20': Not too much to grumble about from this first 20 minutes. South Africa are lacking a bit of quality in the final third right now, but they're certainly making a game of it.
- 20': Aguilar chips one in to the back post, which Khune does well to gather.
- 23': The hosts show signs of further improvement as Mphela drives in a cross from the right after some fine build-up broke down at the last moment. Mexico look very, very open at times.
- 25': Modise fires a shot well wide of goal from ludicrous distance.
- 26': Pienaar momentarily looks to have a clear chance on goal, but the referee notices that he barged Osorio over to make it, so it's a Mexico free-kick.
- 27': Yellow card for Dikgacoi for a foul on Giovani.
- 28': Marquez tries a long-ranger from the ensuing free-kick, and it's well over the bar. This World Cup ball seems to have a habit of going over the bar.
- 29': Pienaar's starting to strut his stuff. He bursts down the right and gets a cross in, which is a bit more like it.
- 32': Franco very, very nearly opens the scoring! He chests down Vela's chipped pass and tries to steer it goalwards, but Khune does brilliantly to keep it out.
- 34': Vela gets a sight of goal out on the right of the area, but he gets his angles wrong. Pretty poor really.
- 36': Mexico keep leaving masses of space down their left-hand side.
- 36': Giovani has a shot and Khumalo deflects it over his own bar! Vela had a decent chance to shoot before looking for Franco.
- 37': Mexico score - but it's ruled out for offside!
- 37': Khune came off his line for the corner amid some woeful defending but, as there's just one defender back, Vela is offside as he turns it in.
- 40': Franco heads over the bar again! Giovani curls one into the centre but, unmarked as usual, Franco manages to make a mess of things.
- 42': South Africa put together some good play once more, with Gaxa forcing a corner at the end of it.
- 42': Perez comes out to meet the corner but is nowhere near it. Mexico escape but only at the expense of another corner.
- 43': ...and that corner fails to clear the first man.
- 44': Mphela is an inch away from giving the hosts the lead! He rises to meet Tshabalala's cross but just can't make it! That would have been a certain goal.
- 45': Dikgacoi rises at the far post to head on goal but, under heavy pressure, it's wide.
- 45': Giovani slips Franco through but the striker is given offside. He wags his finger but was clearly off.
- 45': That's half-time, and the hosts will feel that, for the most part, they've done themselves justice so far.
- 45': Mexico had all the best chances and South Africa's defensive organisation at times looks ripe for punishment, but Khune has made some good saves and they've looked incisive in attack on occasion.
- 45': Giovani remains the star of the show for now, though, and it's hard to see Mexico failing to score if he continues to cause so many problems in the second 45 minutes.
- 45': Join us in the second half to see who can make the breakthrough in the World Cup opener.
- 45': Or South Africa ahead of the second half - Masiela comes on for Thwala.
- 46': The second half is underway!
- 48': It's been a much more sedate start to the second half. You'd think both coaches had probably told their players to tighten up a bit so maybe they're adopting a more cautious attitude for now.
- 48': Tshabalala does brilliantly to get a cross in from the left and Modise comes close to getting a header away, but he's well marked.
- 49': Now a word from our editor, John Brewin, from Soccer City Stadium: "South Africa are nervous hosts but Mexico must be wondering if their old failings are to occur."
- 49': "They play well right up until the moment of truth and then fade. Just like at Wembley last month and just as they did against Argentina in 2006. They have the measure of Bafana but perhaps not the belief."
- 49': "The vuvuzelas are indeed deafening. I am seemingly alone in not wearing earplugs. They get noisiest when waved, as an entire stand all did in the first half."
- 49': ...and back to the match action.
- 53': Giovani produces another little burst, so to speak, but South Africa have the measure of him on this occasion.
- 54': GOOAAALL!
- 54': South Africa take the lead through Tshabalala!
- 54': Mexico leave far too much room in defence once more, this time on their right-hand side, and Tshabalala has enough room to burst through and open the scoring with a thunderous strike.
- 55': The stadium has exploded since that goal and, while the hosts may have been second best so far, they've done enough in attack to warrant a goal.
- 57': Torrado gets a yellow card for Mexico for a body check.
- 57': Back to our editor at the Soccer City Stadium on the reaction to the goal: "I have to say it seemed one of shock - a delay then an explosion. No-one expected him to score from there."
- 59': Mexico have a free-kick and Giovani is stepping to loft it in.
- 59': ...and it's straight to Khune, the South Africa goalkeeper.
- 60': Khune produces an excellent save to deny Giovani! The attacker fired a fierce shot towards the top corner but he was able to push it clear for a corner.
- 63': Osorio attacks down the right flank for Mexico but his cross is pretty poor. The Mexicans seem to be wholly reliant on little Gio to provide a response.
- 66': South Africa break again and the ball comes to Modise through on goal, who manages to miss the target from close range. Seems he may have been offside though.
- 68': Mexico aren't quite on the ropes but they're hardly dominating proceedings. Unsurprisingly, they make a change, with Vela coming off for the veteran Blanco.
- 69': Modise goes clean through slips as he tries to get his shot away! There's a suggestion he was brought down, but nothing is given and Mexico escape...
- 70': Masilela gets a booking for a foul and Mexico have a free-kick in a decent position, but again it comes to nothing.
- 72': Mexico are having plenty of the ball but not getting too far with it.
- 74': Young Javier Hernandez gets his chance in place of the unimpressive Franco.
- 76': Tshabalala nearly feeds Mphela through on goal, but Perez gathers. More good play from the hosts, who are edging closer and closer to the win.
- 79': GOAL FOR MEXICO!
- 79': Marquez is left completely unmarked at the far post from Guardado's cross and is given all the time he needs to slot into the net to make it 1-1.
- 80': It's wide open for the final ten minutes. Gaxa has a shot for South Africa, but it's very speculative.
- 82': Our editor in Soccer City Stadium on the reaction to the goal: "The Mexican fans make their voice heard and their team's subs bench cavorts in some style."
- 83': Modise strays offside on what could have been a promising attack for the hosts.
- 83': South Africa take off star man Pienaar and bring on Bernard Parker.
- 84': Hernandez receives the ball in the area but Khumalo gets a great block in to deny him.
- 85': Letsholonyane gives away a free-kick after dwelling far too long in possession.
- 86': The free-kick is headed clear.
- 88': Mexico are knocking it around a bit at the moment and look the more likely, but we've seen the hosts break away at pace several times so they'll have to be careful.
- 90': Mphela bursts through and hits the post! Mexico nearly get caught out once more as Mphela bursts through and steers it past the 'keeper, but he hits the woodwork!
- 91': Parker corsses into the centre as South Africa break again, but no one can make contact and it's out for a goal kick.
- 91': Our editor on the scene responds to the near-miss: "A truly agonising moment there. Don't let the vuvuzuelas fool you."
- 93': We're into the final minute of stoppage time.
- 93': Mphela receives the ball in an attacking position, but he's knocked off it and that's the final moment.
- 93': Mexico rescue a 1-1 draw with the hosts, who provided a genuine threat and didn't let the thousands of fans in the stadium down.
- 93': Both sides will need to improve their defending as the tournament goes on but, for now, both will feel they can progress from the group.
- 93': Thanks for joining us and, while you wait for the evening game, and if you are a Formula One fan, check out all our coverage from the first day in Canada on ESPNF1
Statistics
 MEX |
RSA |
|
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Fouls | 17 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 6 | Offsides | 3 |
| 5 | Corner Kicks | 4 |
| 2 | Saves | 2 |
| 58 | Possession | 42 |
| 14 | SHOTS | 9 |
| 5 | ON GOAL | 5 |
| 0.2 | On Target % | 0.3 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 500 | Accurate Passes | 239 |
| 578 | Passes | 300 |
| 0.9 | Pass Completion % | 0.8 |
| 7 | Accurate Crosses | 2 |
| 21 | Crosses | 19 |
| 0.3 | Cross % | 0.1 |
| 70 | Long Balls | 35 |
| 46 | Accurate Long Balls | 14 |
| 0.7 | Long Balls % | 0.4 |
| 5 | Blocked Shots | 1 |
| 20 | Effective Tackles | 9 |
| 23 | Tackles | 15 |
| 0.9 | Tackle % | 0.6 |
| 0 | Interceptions | 0 |
| 12 | Effective Clearances | 11 |
| 20 | Clearances | 17 |
Game Information
Competition: FIFA World Cup
Venue: FNB Stadium
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Attendance: 84,490
Venue: FNB Stadium
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Attendance: 84,490
FIFA World Cup Standings
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | South Korea | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Winner Playoff Path D | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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