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Three players were sent off as World Cup hosts Mexico defeated South Africa in a dramatic opening match at a packed Azteca Stadium.
South Africa finished with nine men, while Mexico were reduced to 10 in the dying moments.
The Brazilian referee, Wilton Sampaio, produced a barrage of red cards, sending off South Africa’s Yaya Sithole for denying a scoring opportunity and Themba Zwane for a slap, then sending off Mexico’s Cesar Montes for a late foul.
Only four red cards were shown in the entire Qatar 2022 World Cup, while three had never before been shown in an opening match of the tournament.
Long before there was any hint of that turn of events, Mexico delighted their fans with their first goal of the finals after just nine minutes.
South African midfielder Sithole was tackled by Erik Lira and the ball fell to Julian Quinones whose powerful shot went through the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Quinones came close to making it 2-0 just before half-time, but his first shot from 12 yards bounced off the foot of the right post.
The hosts’ task became much easier when Sithole was sent off five minutes into the second half, bringing down Brian Gutierrez as he was passing through on goal.
Forward Raul Jimenez, 35, sealed the victory with his first World Cup goal, powerfully tapping in Roberto Alvarado’s cross for Mexico’s second goal, a moment that appeared to make the veteran cry.
Mexico’s best World Cup results came in tournaments hosted in 1970 and 1986, when they reached the quarterfinals on both occasions
South Africa were playing in the final for the first time since hosting the 2010 competition but ended up with nine men when substitute Zwane was sent off for slapping Alvarado.
The 17-year-old Mexican midfielder, Gilberto Mora, the youngest player in this tournament, became the second youngest to take part in a World Cup, behind only the Brazilian great Pelé, who played in the 1958 competition when he was also 17.
Mexico also received a late red card when Montes fouled Khuliso Mudau, but the hosts maintained their two-goal lead.
*Excerpt from BBC
