Just when it was beginning to look as if even Africa could do dull, the World Cup burst into life with a terrific goal for the home side and that rarest of things, a memorable opening game. Indeed, a breathless one, or at least a breathless second half.
South Africa appeared sluggish in a plodding first half, though there was no hint of that when Siphiwe Tshabalala scored an electric opener, putting down a marker even at this early stage for one of the goals of the tournament. There will not be many swifter counter attacks or more decisive finishes either, and Tshabalala's strike transformed a game and a crowd that had begun to settle for anti-climax. It was almost a shame when Rafael Mrquez evened things up 11 minutes from the end, though Mexico were dangerous throughout and deserved to take something from the game, even if Katlego Mphela did hit the post in the last minute of normal time.
Mexico had looked the sharper and more inventive side in the first half, and could have taken an early lead when Itumeleng Khune spilled Paul Aguilar's cross on virtually their first attack. Aaron Mokoena helped his goalkeeper by tidying up on that occasion though Aguilar continued to get forward from right-back, allowing the notional right winger Giovani dos Santos to come inside and play a freer role.
The former Spurs player shot narrowly wide midway through the first half after catching Teko Modise in possession, but Guillermo Franco missed the best chance to put his side in front when Arsenal's Carlos Vela played him in with a lofted pass. Franco controlled thy ball on his chest and looked certain to score, but Khune stayed on his feet and blocked the shot. Vela missed a chance then had a goal disallowed for a borderline offside before the hosts managed to put together a convincing attack, yet when they did, right on the stroke of the interval, they managed to miss a glorious opportunity to turn round with an undeserved lead. Tshabalala finally sent over a dangerous cross from the left, and though Mphela looked well placed to meet it he failed to get his head on the ball in front of goal and inside the six yard box.
The pair redeemed themselves in some style 10 minutes into the second half. South Africa waited patiently for the right moment to disrupt one of Mexico's most patient build-ups, a succession ofsideways passes going nowhere in particular near the halfway line, then struck with the deftest of counters. Mphela played the perfect 40 yard pass from inside the centre circle to allow Tshabalala to run behind the Mexican defence, and the winger's left foot finish was even better, flying unstoppably past Oscar Prez and into his top left corner.
Mexico came back with a fizzing shot from Dos Santos that Khune did well to push round a post, before Modise was denied a chance of a second South African goal by a combination of Perez's reflexes and a subtle tug from the experienced Francisco Rodrguez. Had that chance been taken the hosts might have held on, but after Javier Aguirre made three attacking substitions, his first one created an equaliser. Andres Guardado's diagonal ball over a static South African defence found three men queueing up to receive it at the far post. Marquez, the third in line, calmly took the ball down and beat Khune.
© Guardian News and Media 2010
