Mexico's Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez punished an indisciplined South Africa on Thursday night in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
Quinones opened the scoring in the ninth minute at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City after capitalising on the poor control of the South Africa defender Sphephelo Sithole.
The 29-year-old slotted the ball past the South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and raced gleefully to the sidelines to celebrate with Mexico's substitutes as well as his teammates on the field.
Just after the pause, Sithole’s day got worse when he was sent off for a professional foul on Brian Gutierrez.
Mexico eventually made their numerical advantage count midway through the second half.
Roberto Alvarado surged down the right wing and crossed the ball, and Raul Jimenez ghosted in on the left to head the ball past Williams and make it 2-0.
Ten minutes from time, South Africa lost a second player. Themba Zwane was shown a straight red for elbowing Alvarado.
And in stoppage time, Mexico were reduced to 10 men when Cesar Montes hacked down Khuliso Mudau on one of South Africa's rare forays into the opposition half.
Rowdy start
Before the match, Shakira and Burna Boy performed Dai Dai, the official song of the 2026 World Cup.
J Balvin and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli were among the other performers to feature during a song-and-dance celebration of Mexican culture and history.
While there was a festive atmosphere inside the stadium, there were chaotic scenes in the centre of Mexico City, where thousands of fans pushed and shoved as they attempted to enter the official World Cup fan zone shortly before kickoff.
Access to the fan zone in Zocala plaza was hampered by metal barriers erected in recent days to prevent protesting teachers reaching the area.
"Stop pushing and shoving, there are children here, you're like animals," a city official shouted through a megaphone as he tried to control access to the venue where the opening game was to be shown on a giant screen.
Some fans threw water bottles and hurled insults at police as they chanted songs about the Mexican team.
"It's crazy," said Javier Maciel, a 25-year-old fan. "There could have been better organisation."
In the second game in Group A, Czech Republic take on South Korea at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.
(with AFP)
