Co-host Mexico got off to a victorious start, defeating South Africa 2-0 as the largest World Cup in history kicked off Thursday at Mexico City’s famed Estadio Azteca.
Vital Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez powered the hosts to victory , sending over 80,000 green-clad fans into raptures inside the iconic stadium.
The win was Mexico’s first win in a World Cup opener, having previously lost five and drawn two including against then-host South Africa at the 2010 World Cup.
The more than 80,000 fans did not have to wait long to celebrate the tournament’s first goal as Julián Quiñones struck low through the legs of South Africa keeper Rowen Williams with less than nine minutes gone, with the strike becoming the earliest World Cup goal since Philipp Lahm netted for Germany against Costa Rica after six minutes in 2006.
South Africa’s hopes of getting back into the game were dented when midfielder Sphephelo Sithole was shown a straight red card early in the second half after taking down Brian Gutiérrez on the edge of the box when through on goal.
The drama did not end there. The match was marred by three red cards two for South Africa and one for Mexico the most ever in an opening World Cup match.
South Africa broke in numbers and had four players against three when Mudau raced towards the box; Mexico’s Montes clipped him just outside the area, and the referee quickly produced another red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Strikingly, this is not the first World Cup game to see three straight red cards the last time it happened, South Africa were also involved, when they played Denmark in 1998.
The Azteca also made history on the night, becoming the first stadium to host three World Cups.
