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Scorecentre
Group A
- Soccer City
- Johannesburg
- 15:00 11th Jun
| Team | Score | Team |
|---|---|---|
|
1 - 1 | Mexico
|
South Africa
Match Links
| Team | Pld | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 3 | 7 |
| Mexico | 3 | 4 |
| South Africa | 3 | 4 |
| France | 3 | 1 |
Bafana Bafana held in opener
Marquez cancels out Tshabalala strike in Jo'burg
By Joe Drabble Last updated: 12th June 2010 
Moment of the match: Mphela striking the post late on - so, so close to a late winner.
Attempt of the match: Tshabalala's goal - a quite brilliant strike.
Save of the match: Khune flung out an arm to save well from Franco.
Talking Point: Can South Africa improve defensively enough to get out of their group? They certainly need to.
Goal of the match: Tshabalala.
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South Africa were denied a dream start to the 2010 World Cup after their opening Group A encounter with Mexico ended 1-1.
A sublime finish from Siphiwe Tshabalala had put Bafana Bafana within 11 minutes of victory, however Rafael Marquez levelled matters to ensure an absorbing contest finished all square.
Mexico, who dominated the first half, were made to pay for missing numerous chances when Tshabalala expertly latched on to Teko Modise's through ball and calmly lashed the ball past Oscar Perez 10 minutes into the second half.
The celebration which followed was something special, however the majority of the 90,000 fans inside Soccer City were to be denied a famous win.
After offering little in the way of attacking threat during the second period, defensive midfielder Marquez neatly controlled Andres Guardado's cross and fired home to level the scores.
Both sides pressed for a winner, and Katlego Mphela almost won it for the hosts but his last minute effort bounced back off a post.
Pressure
Mexico kicked off the first Finals to be held in Africa, and so nearly got off to a dream start with just two minutes on the clock.
Full-back Paul Aguillar's low teasing cross caused panic in the penalty area and, with goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune stranded on the floor, Aaron Mokoena dived in to deny Giovani dos Santos a certain goal.
Mexico continued to dominate possession and territory in the opening exchanges as the occasion appeared to be getting the better of the hosts.
El Tri should have made their pressure tell on 15 minutes, Giovani's pinpoint corner was inch-perfect, but the arriving Guillermo Franco headed over from six yards.
Efrain Juarez was the first man to be cautioned on 18 minutes when he prevented a quick free-kick taking place.
Giovani, who spent much of last season on loan at Galatasaray from parent club Tottenham Hotspur, continued to wreak havoc through the middle and his fizzing drive nearly saw the deadlock broken in spectacular fashion minutes later.
Reneilwe Letsholonyane joined Juarez in the book on 27 minutes when he cynically ended another menacing run through the middle from Giovani.
The wave of Mexican pressure continued and only an instinctive stop from Khune prevented Franco putting Javier Aguirre's men into a deserved lead.
Carlos Vela then saw a cross-cum-shot flash wide and Giovani had a shot deflected over as the hosts failed to deal with the movement and trickery of their opponents.
The ball did hit the South African net from the resulting corner, however Mexican celebrations were cut short by the linesman's flag after he correctly flagged Vela offside.
Bafana Bafana put together their first meaningful attack three minutes before the break, quick interchange in the midfield eventually ending with Mexico nervously putting the ball behind for a corner.
Fierce drive
That gave the hosts some new-found belief and a dangerous cross from Modise was inches away from finding the head of the onrushing Tshabalala.
After ending the first half strongly, South Africa continued to press forward after the break as Everton playmaker Pienaar saw more of the ball.
And on 55 minutes the stadium erupted as Bafana Bafana went ahead courtesy of a stunning left-footed finish from Tshabalala.
With the Mexico backline caught square, Modise slipped the rampaging left-winger away and his fierce drive from just inside the area sailed past Perez and into the far top corner.
Mexico responded well, Giovani skipping inside and unleashing a rasping effort of his own which brought the best out of Khune.
The home side were content to play on the counter-attack thereafter and Modise nearly doubled Bafana Bafana's lead on 70 minutes but Perez was out quickly to block with his legs.
Mexico coach Aguirre rung the changes in search of a route back into the game, Vela and Franco both making way for Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Javier Hernandez respectively.
And, without threatening at all in the second period, Mexico grabbed a lifeline 11 minutes from time when Barcelona's Marquez sidefooted home after poor defending from the hosts.
A short corner was played in towards the back post by Guardado, and Marquez was allowed all the time in the world to control and take aim past the helpless Khune.
Mexico had the momentum in the final stages, but it was South Africa who could, and perhaps should, have won it when Mphela struck a post late on.
| Player | Team | Cards | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Khune | S.A | 8.2 | |
| S. Tshabalala | S.A | 8.2 | |
| G. dos. Santos | MEX | 8.1 | |
| T. Modise | S.A | 7.3 | |
| B. Khumalo | S.A | 7.2 | |
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Comments (28)
Adrian Wardle (Crewe Alexandra fan) says...
Ok so that was offside, then maybe the rule should change as lets face it the keeper made a mistake, and i think keepers get away with too much anyway.
Posted 10:49 12th June 2010
Rambaruth Prithvirajsingh (Liverpool fan) says...
The match gives me courage for the South Africans. It could have the only match they could have won! Let's hope they will be out of the group stage! they did well, especially in the second half! Nice display. i don't much about the mexicans, I would have preferred the last shot(on the side bar) to be in. Would have been the perfect finish for the 80000 Africans there! :) Keep it Up! They do not seem to be ranked 83rd! Much above!
Posted 09:58 12th June 2010
Mpho Ramosoeu (Arsenal fan) says...
Bafana played well but can do better especially in defence and attack. Mokoena needs 2 communicate more since he is de leader and Mphela needs more support up front. well done to Tshabalala 4 dat stunning goal,contender 4 goal of da tournament? 2 Dikgacoi u proved why u r playing in da FA premiership! Its Africa 's tym gud people!
Posted 09:49 12th June 2010
Thomas Wale (Coventry City fan) says...
Keith- were you watching the same game as the rest of us. The officials were excellent. Darren- not a complicated rule. There must be 2 opposition players between an attacker and the goal line when the ball is played to him providing he is in the oppositions half. As for the game; a great start to the tournament, exciting game and great atmosphere. More games like this and less performances like Frances tonight will make a supurb tournament.
Posted 22:59 11th June 2010
Adam P (Leeds United fan) says...
Have FIFA changed the offside rules AGAIN? How can there be a defender standing on the line but the striker be offside? If that is the rule then why not have the keeper stand on the halfway line with a few defenders in your own half to crowd out anyone making a run? Then anyone who goes past the halfway line cant pass as its offside. It is not the strikers fault if the keeper decides to go flying out for a ball and misses it while there was a defender between him and the goal. It is the keeper who should be punished, not the striker as it makes no sense otherwise.
Posted 21:07 11th June 2010
Lanre Sulaimon (Chelsea fan) says...
am an african, i feel suparb and exciting
Posted 19:06 11th June 2010
Joe Henderson (Newcastle United fan) says...
Keith, are you a professional killjoy? That was a great start to the tournament. Plus, the linesman was absolutely spot on in ruling the goal out for offside.
Posted 18:55 11th June 2010
Emmanuel Mwakatabale (Arsenal fan) says...
SA were poor in finishing otherwise they could score more and get a first win
Posted 18:53 11th June 2010
Loramer Darvel (Liverpool fan) says...
Bafana Bafana did us proud and I think they are highly underrated. We made a few mistakes but man what a goal.......! Next round here we come. Sincerest sympathy to MADIBA and family. Halala Bafana Halala....
Posted 18:49 11th June 2010
Darren Hardie (Manchester City fan) says...
regards to my first comment here the very confusing answer.????? The offside rule reads that a player is offside if he is "nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent (the last opponent typically being the goalkeeper)." Usually when an attacking player runs past the "last defender," the goalkeeper remains in the net -- meaning the "last" defender is really the second-to-last defender. In the case of Friday's game, the goalkeeper was not there behind the defense. The second Vega passed Khune in the middle of the box, he was offside, regardless of Pienaar's position at the post. It was an intelligent call from the referee and his assistant in a complicated demonstration of a complicated rule.
Posted 18:41 11th June 2010
David Johnson (Arsenal fan) says...
that goal was an offside. fifa rules says that when a player stays beyond the goalkeeper, even with a player at post, is offside. you can go search for it.
Posted 18:41 11th June 2010
Tom Brennan (Huddersfield Town fan) says...
keith if your talking about the vela goal he was at least 2 yards behind the keeper with only the man on the line between him and the goal, clearly making him offside.
Posted 18:38 11th June 2010
Modise Tshabalala (Arsenal fan) says...
sorry keith openshaw, as was CLEARLY stated by the commentators, if the player goes beyond the goalkeeper, he's automatically offside regardless of outfield player's positions. the decision was good, and it's a rule that has no grey area and has been around in football forever. most people don't know this because it rarely happens but it is a rule.
Posted 18:33 11th June 2010
Darren Hardie (Manchester City fan) says...
why was that goal offside there was a man on the line playing hin on. has there been a rule change while wasn't looking
Posted 18:32 11th June 2010
Tommy Rose (Everton fan) says...
For Keith Openshaw (Manchester City fan), the Mexican goal WAS offside, maybe we dont need replays but fans who understand the game
Posted 18:30 11th June 2010
Craig Wood (Manchester United fan) says...
Well Kieth, i do agree with you on the corner, but the offside goal was infact offside. As the keeper was infront of vela, vela was offside. Regardless if pinearr was on the line. Thats the rule. Anyway Bafana Bafana deserved to win, but thats how it goes
Posted 18:27 11th June 2010
James Cane (Manchester United fan) says...
Keith Openshaw should look up the offside rule the goal was clearly offside as the keeper stepped up acting as the last man, wouldnt exspect you to know the rules anyway, just thought id clear it up for you. Great start to the World Cup lets hope England start of well tommorow.
Posted 18:26 11th June 2010
Max Edwards (Manchester United fan) says...
Refreeing was brilliant, the goal was offside because the was one defending player instead of two...check the rules Kieth. Oh and can someone explain how mokoena got to become a national player let alone captain, that guy is the weakest link????
Posted 18:23 11th June 2010
Mark Bliss (Southend United fan) says...
The Mexican goal was clearly offside. Having a defender on the post is irrelevant in this scenario because the keeper was in front of the player who scored when the ball was passed (headed). FIFA offside rule: "A player is in an offside position if he is in his opponents' half of the field and is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the next to last opponent"
Posted 18:21 11th June 2010
Mike S (Arsenal fan) says...
Read your offside rules, the first goal was rightly ruled offside as when the ball was played on from the corner Vela was in front the second last defender (this being the goalkeeper) hence offside. Great goal by south africa, pity about the poor defending.
Posted 18:21 11th June 2010