Bafana Bafana’s FIFA World Cup campaign got off to a disappointing start as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to hosts Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Mexico got off to the perfect start and broke the deadlock as early as the fourth minute when Sphephelo Sithole was dispossessed on the edge of the box by Julian Quinones, who fired his effort through the legs of Ronwen Williams.
South Africa pushed forward in the hope of finding an equalising goal but they were unable to break through the Mexican defence.
Williams came to his side’s rescue in the latter stage of the first-half when he made a fingertip save to deny Raul Jimenez from scoring his first goal at the World Cup.
Hugo Broos’ men went into the half-time break trailing by one goal at the Estadio Azteca Stadium.
Mexico nearly doubled their lead early in the second-half when Williams tried to play the ball out but it fell into the path of Brian Gutierrez, who failed to capitalise on the keeper’s sloppy pass.
Bafana were reduced to 10-men in the 49th minute when Sithole brought down Gutierrez just outside the area as he raced through on goal.
Broos opted to bring on fresh legs after the hour mark as Lyle Foster and Jayden Adams made way for Thalente Mbatha and Themba Zwane.
Mexico made changes of their own moments later as Alvaro Fidalgo and Gutierrez went off and were replaced by 17-year-old Gilberto Mora and Luis Chávez.
The hosts’ persistence paid off and doubled their lead in the 67th minute when Roberto Alvarado sent a pinpoint cross to Raul Jimenez, who found the back of the net with his head.
South Africa made two more substitutions in the 76th minute when Modiba and Rayners were taken off and replaced by Oswin Appollis and Evidence Makgopa.
Meanwhile, Mexica rang three changes as Armando Gonzalez, Edson Alvarez and Alexis Vega came on to replace Jimenez, Lira and Quinones.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Bafana as they were reduced to nine-men in the 82nd minute when Themba Zwane was sent off following a VAR check after he was adjudged to have swung an arm at Alvarado.
Mexico were then reduced to 10-men in stoppage-time when Cesar Montes was shown a red card after he brought down Mudau, denying him a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The hosts held on to their two-goal lead until the final whistle to walk away with the win and all three points in the opening match of the World Cup.
