Mexico and South Africa faced each other at the Azteca Stadium (Mexico City Stadium), in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. El Tri started Group A on the right foot by beat the African team 2-0 with goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez. This is Mexico’s first victory in an inaugural duel.
As soon as Mexico’s initial: Raúl Rangel; Israel Reyes, César Montes, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo; Érik Lira, Brian Gutiérrez, Álvaro Fidalgo; Roberto Alvarado, Raúl Jiménez and Julián Quiñones.
As soon as South Africa’s starter: Ronwen Williams; Khuliso Mudau, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Ime Okon, Aubrey Modiba; Teboho Mokoena, Jayden Adams, Yaya Sithole; Lyle Foster and Iqraam Rayners.
Only four minutes of the first half were enough for Raúl Jiménez had Mexico’s first chance. The former Fulham striker made a great left-footed shot on the edge of the area after a center from Israel Reyes. But the shot was well saved by Ronwen Williams.
Eight minutes into the match came the first goal of the 2026 World Cup. High pressure from the Mexican team made Sphephelo Sithole lost the ball on the edge of the area. This recovery was taken advantage of by Julian QuinoneI know that, with a great shot with his right leg, scored 1-0 of the match.
The first yellow card of the World Cup came in the 16th minute. In an attempt to exit Álvaro Fidalgo, Teboho Mokoena He was deceived by the El Tri midfielder’s cut to the outside. Mokoena earned his first World Cup card.
Julián Quiñones showed a lot of mobility in the first quarter of an hour of the game. The Arab football striker He exchanged several times with Raúl Jiménez to attack from the inside.
After the first hydration time, Javier Aguirre’s team had not allowed any shots on Raúl Rangel’s goal. The defensive work of the Aztec team was very serious. In attack, Quiñones was the most incisive.
Despite some isolated headers from South Africa, Mexico generated much more danger from the sidesmainly by the Israel Reyes band. Two minutes before the end of the first half, Brian Gutiérrez received a cross from the right. As if it were a battering ram, The Chivas footballer pivoted the ball to Julián Quiñones that came in front of the play. The Al Qadsiah footballer finished off a ball that crashed into the goalkeeper’s left post.
Although the result is short, Mexico completely dominated the first half. Scoring the first goal took pressure off Javier Aguirre’s team. Israel Reyes, Brian Gutiérrez, Jesús Gallardo and Julián Quiñones They were the players with the highest ratings in the first half.
Second half
As happened in the first half, Mexico started the second half with high pressure. This completely complicated the South African team. In a few seconds of the snap, Mexico was close to making it 2-0 on the scoreboard. Everything seemed to indicate that if El Tri put his mind to it, he would score the goal of tranquility.
Mexico tried other ways to attack the nervous South African defense. At minute 50 of the game, El Tri looked for long passes behind the center backs. In one of the long deliveries, Brian Gutiérrez went one-on-one with the African goalkeeper. However, On a slightly clumsy finish by Sphephelo Sithole, Gutiérrez was brought down and Sithole received a red card.
In 65 minutes, with the result a need and numerical superiority on the field, Mexico was not deep in attack. This is why Javier Aguirre decided to move the bench. Luis Chávez and Gilberto Mora They entered the game to give him greater offensive projection in the midfield.
It only took a minute and a half for Mexico to He scored the second goal of the game. A cross from the right by Roberto Alvarado was very well read by Raúl Jiménez. Without opposition, the Mexican headed in and scored the first goal of his career in a World Cup.
Raúl Jiménez took a lot of weight off his shoulders with this goal. First of all, the Mexican forward scored for the first time in a World Cup; Raúl is one of the forwards who, without much noise, has achieved stay in the orbit of the Aztec team; goal dedicated to heaven by recent death of his father.
With a larger lead on the scoreboard, Javier Aguirre began to make several changes with the intention of refreshing the as soon as inside the field and even so that many footballers on the bench took off the pressure of debuting in this World Cup. Edson Álvarez, Alexis Vega and Armando González entered.
At minute 81 of the game, the indispensable Wilton Sampaio went to review an aggressive play. The Brazilian referee determined that Themba Zwane slapped Mexican Roberto Alvarado. South Africa was left with 9 players 10 minutes away from the ideal.
Although South Africa had only conceded two goals in the opening match, The damage to the South African team will have consequences throughout the championship. Hugo Broos’ team will not have Themba Zwane and Sphephelo Sithole for the remainder of the group stage.
Already in added time, César Montes made a mistake in defense. With the duel already settled and with a not very dangerous attack that leaned on the right side, The Mexican defender crossed Khuliso Mudau with excessive violence. Furthermore, Montes was the last man. Wilton Sampaio showed the “Puppy” the red card.
This expulsion is the big asterisk of the Mexican performance in this first match. Javier Aguirre loses one of his starting center backs for the next games. This is a disconnection that benefits the Aztec team’s next rivals.
The Mexican team started the 2026 World Cup on the right foot. These first points from El Tri leave good feelings from a collective point of view. Even though the game was distorted with the expulsions, With all the men on the field there was no danger in the South African proposal.
This was a good first thermometer for Javier Aguirre and his team. Starting a World Cup is not easy. El Tri handled the pressure and took a big step to advance from the group stage.
Detailed data from the duel between Mexico and South Africa
Keep reading:
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