Played at Venue:Soccer City, Johannesburg on Friday, 11 June 2010
Rafael Marquez rescued a point for Mexico as Javier Aguirre's side hit back to draw 1-1 with hosts South Africa in an entertaining opening game in the 2010 World Cup.South Africa v Mexico Match Report
Such was Mexico's dominance of the first half that they should really have won the match with something to spare but Bafana Bafana edged the second period and appeared to be heading for a famous victory when Siphiwe Tshabalala gave them the lead with a great strike.
However, Barcelona star Marquez slotted home a late equaliser to ensure the points were shared.
In an extremely one-sided opening to the match, Mexico almost grabbed a dramatic early breakthrough when South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune could only parry a cross straight to Giovani dos Santos.
However, before the Tottenham midfielder could get a shot away, Aaron Mokoena was able to make a timely intervention.
Giovani, despite fading in the second half, was the star of the show, pulling the strings for Mexico and cutting the hosts' defence to shreds time and time again.
In the 19th minute he surged through the heart of the South Africa defence before lashing his shot wide before Mexico created the first clear-cut opening of the match just past the half-hour mark.
A patient build-up ended with Guillermo Franco taking the ball on his chest and getting in a shot that Khune did well to block with his right arm.
Carlos Vela then wasted a fine opening before having an effort rightly ruled out for offside before Franco got his head to Giovani's curling free-kick only for the former West Ham striker to loop the ball over the bar when he should really have scored.
South Africa finally came to life just before half time and almost broke the deadlock when Katlego Mphela narrowly failed to get his head to Tshabalala's teasing cross with keeper Oscar Perez stranded.
South Africa were far better after the break following Parreira's decision to bring Tsepo Masilela on for Lucas Thwala at left-back.
The change frustrated Mexico who seemed incapable of finding the space which they had created at will in the first 45 minutes.
Despite their lovely approach play they struggled to find a cutting edge and were made to pay for their first-half misses when South Africa took the lead ten minutes into the second half with a superb goal.
Clever interplay allowed Kaizer Chiefs star Tshabalala to surge forward and he lashed an unstoppable shot past the static Perez.
Although Giovani powered in a left-footed drive that forced Khune to make a smart stop, Mexico were left shell-shocked by the goal and struggled to create any openings until poor defending allowed them to equalise with only 11 minutes left.
Bafana Bafana got caught out at a short corner routine and, when the cross came in, an unmarked Marquez was able to control the ball before ramming it home.
Both teams pressed for a winner in the closing stages but it was South Africa that came closest to grabbing one when, in stoppage time, Mphela raced on to a long ball forward and managed to get in a shot that beat Perez only to come back off the post.
South Africa v Mexico Highlights Video
54 mins GOAL South Africa 1-0 Mexico
Mexico are caught short at the back allowing TSHABALALA to race down the left before lashing an unstoppable shot home.
78 mins GOAL South Africa 1-1 Mexico
South Africa get caught cold at a short corner. Poor marking leaves three Mexicans unmarked and it is MARQUEZ who has the simple task of ramming the ball home at the far post.
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