Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Lineups:
South Africa (451): Khune, Gaxa, Masiela, Khumalo, Mokoena (Sibaya 45'), Letsbotnyane, Pienaar, Dikgacol, Mphela (Parker 64'), Tshabalala (Nomvethe, 87'), Modise
Mexico (442): Perez, Osorlo, Salcido, Rodriguez, Moreno, Marquez, Juarez, Torrado (Torres 86'), Franco, Dos Santos, Guardado (Hernandez 67')
The nineteenth FIFA World Cup began with the host nation suffering from a lot of nerves and unable to get a grip in a game that Mexico controlled. The early exchanges of too-long through balls and head tennis came to an abrupt end in the seventh minute when, in the first real attack of the match, Rafael Marquez started a fine goalscoring move. After the midfielder's run and pass to Andres Guardado, the striker then laid the ball off to Torrado in space who found Guillermo Franco a foot away from his marker to slot it home.
The match settled again and South Africa manufactured their first assault of the day when Teko Modise hustled after the ball forcing Francisco Rodriquez into a poor pass. Kagisho Dikgocol had made a long run from his own half and had a good scoring chance when he climbed up to get on the end of Letsholonyane's cross, but headed the ball straight at the keeper.
And just two minutes later that miss almost proved costly when Franco out muscled Bongani Khumalo and found Marquez joining the attack where his dribbling skills were put on display before he shot high over the bar. Mexico continued to look the better side and in the forty-first minute finally earned their reward with a second goal. Guardado was involved again when his deep cross was sent goalwards by Dos Santos. That effort was blocked but the rebound fell kindly to Carlos Salcido who had remained up field after a corner who had a half open net to shot at.
The South Africans changed it up at half time through a substitution; Aaron Mokoena's poor performance mercifully cut short by his manager. The feel of the match was unchanged however and six minutes after the restart the result was beyond doubt when Man of the Match winner Rafael Marquez capped off his hard days work with a goal. Dos Santos again failed to get his shot home and Marquez was there, following up his pass, to volley in a third for Mexico.
After that there would be more chances for Mexico while Letsholonyane had a late chance to give the home crowd something to cheer about, sending his shot over the bar.
South Africa 0 - 3 Mexico
Goalscorers:
MEX Franco 7'
MEX Salcido 41'
MEX Marquez 51'
Discipline:
No Cards
Man of the Match:
MEX Rafael Marquez
| GROUP A | ||||||||
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Mexico | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| France | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Uruguay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
No comments:
Post a Comment