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World Cup: South Africa vs. Mexico (Matchday Commentary)

Mexico Crest SAFF

The countdown is over. The World Cup is here.

The eyes of the world are upon Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, as host South Africa will try to avoid being the first host nation to drop the opening game of the tournament when it takes on Mexico in Group A action (10 a.m., ESPN).

The Bafana Bafana are playing well, unbeaten in their last 11 matches. Mexico finished qualifying strong under coach Javier Aguirre and played a thorough stretch of pre-World Cup friendlies in preparation for today's match.

I will be providing live commentary from Soccer City Stadium, but as always, feel free to share any thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match!

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FINAL– That's it for me. Please feel free to share your post-match thoughts in the comments section below. Thanks for following along and enjoy the rest of the World Cup (and as always, be sure to follow the World Cup on SBI and Fox Soccer).

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FINAL– Mexico 1, South Africa 1. A fair result, though Mexico will consider this disappointing after dominating play in the first half.

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92nd minute– Time is running out on this one. WHo has one more good chance left?

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90th Minute– Three minutes of added time.

It really is impressive how much of the ball Dos Santos gets working the right wing. Will be interesting to see him going against Patrice Evra.

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88th minute– South Africa OFF THE POST!!!! WOW. Mphela blasts it off the left post.

South Africa is charging forward now.

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85th minute– "Si Se Puede" is being chanted now pretty loudly, but the vuvuzelas drown it out eventually. Some great stuff from the fans today.

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84th minute– SA finally makes a sub and it's Bernard Parker coming in for Steven Pienaar. Parker's a promising young striker and one to watch.

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82nd minute– It should be noted that there was an impressively loud roar of "GOL" when Mexico scored. 'El Tri' is well represented by fans here. And yes, it's a good bet that more than 75 percent of them are from the United States.

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80th minute– Bad marking by South AFrica on that short corner, can't leave Marquez wide open on the back post. Class finish from the captain.

And yes, I know American fans everywhere are puking. Well, most.

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78th minute- GOAL MEXICO, and it's Rafa Marquez with the finish. Mexico 1, South AFrica 1.

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77th minute– Mexico's starting to press more, earning a corner for Blanco. Taken short.

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75th minute– This game feels like every USA-Mexico game on U.S. soil for the past decade (yes, not including last summer's Gold Cup).

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73rd minute– And it's 'Chicarito' coming in for Franco. Let's see what the kid can do on this big stage.

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72nd minute– Masilela with a professional foul on the wing to stop a Mexico counter. Here comes a free kick. JUST a bit outside.

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70th minute– And it's Cuauhtemoc Blanco, coming in for Vela. Blanco won't be scared of this environment. He'll either score a goal, assist on a goal, or get a red card. It won't be boring.

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68th minute– You know what this game needs? Some "Chicharito" and some Cuahtemoc.

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61st minute– Guardado with an aimless "Why didn't you start me" shot into the upper deck.

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60th minute– SAVE KHUNE!! What a save on a Dos Santos blast. Mexico corner.

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59th minute– Mexico got torched on that goal by some quality passing and finishing. American fans have seen enough counterattacks burn Mexico in the past.

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58th minute– It's so loud here that you can't even here the celebratory music playing over the loudspeekers.

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57th minute– Guardado comes in for Aguilar. Mexico will need Guardado to provide a spark.

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55th minute– and it's Siphiwe Tshabalala with the beautiful blast to put South AFrica up, 1-0. Mexico is in full panic mode now.

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54th minute- GOAL SOUTH AFRICA!!!! And this place is going CRAZY!!!!

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51st minute– Not much real action yet this half. Andres Guardado is about to come in. I still think he should have been a starter.

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HALFTIME– One sub, it's Tsepo Masilela in for Lucas Thwala at left back. Did that ruin your fantasy team like mine? Kidding.

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HALFTIME– Not really liking Mexico's lineup today. I know Javier Aguirre is going 4-3-3, but I would have to find a way to get Andres Guardado on the field. I'm also sure we'll see 'Chicharito' in the second half.

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HALFTIME– For those asking, the offside call was legit as mentioned before. You can't always listen to TV announcers (or me for that matter).

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HALFTIME– The security in the stadium itself is tight in some places, not so tight in others. In my dash to try and find my match credentials I made my way into a VVIP section at the door of the "Presidential Suite'. No word on how many of the South African president's wives where there.

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HALFTIME– You can count me a victim of the outrageous traffic here in the area today. Note to self: when attending a World Cup opener in a developing country, when the host country is playing, leaving six hours early isn't enough.

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HALFTIME– Mexico 0, South Africa 0. 'El Tri' with all the chances until late, before ZA started finding some headers.

Things will get tense for Mexico the longer they go without a goal. South Africa can't be too upset being tied.

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45th minute– Wow, South Africa goes close again on a header. Perez is a waste in the air on set pieces. He might as well stay on his line.

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44th minute– South AFrica goes SO close on a cross-header, but can't connect. South Africa with another corner.

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41st minute– South Africa corner kick and the vuvuzelas are rocking. My ears are bleeding.

The corner skies over Oscar Perez, but can't find anybody.

Let me put my ear plugs in.

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40th minute– Mexico is getting good service on free kicks, but can't direct their shots on goal (without being offside that is).

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39th minute– Mexico has enjoyed the better of the play throughout, but still no goals.

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37th minute– A Mexico goal is ruled offside. That's actually a good call because the goalkeeper was way out, so even though a South African defender was on the line, it's still offside.

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36th minute– Dos Santos comes very close, but forces a save and corner kick instead.

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35th minute– It's Mexico 0, South Africa 0. After a crazy trip to get here, and some technical difficulties, I'm coming to you from Soccer City in Johannesburg, where the vuvuzelas are loud and the Mexican fans aren't letting themselves be drowned out.

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PREGAME – Here are the lineups for today's match:

MEXICO

———————Vela——————–

———Franco——–Dos Santos——-

—Torrado——Marquez——-Juarez—

–Salcido–Rodriguez–Osorio–Aguilar–

——————-Perez——————–

SOUTH AFRICA

——————-Mphela——————

–Tshabalala—–Pienaar——Modise–

——-Dikgacoi—–Letsholonyane——

–Thwala–Khumalo–Mokoena–Gaxa–

——————-Khune——————

Comments

  1. Haven’t read every comment in this thread, but no one seems to have mentioned the fact that if Vela hadn’t touched the ball on his offsides, it would have gone in the goal anyway and Vela would have just been passively offsides, giving Mexico a 1-0 lead. Pretty bone headed on his part. Or did I see it wrong (five times)?

    Reply
  2. I think both teams will feel like they should have taken more from the game. Mexico got screwed on the first goal they scored — it was neither offside nor a handball, so far as I could tell.

    On the other hand, South Africa played pretty well in the 2nd half, they had at least 2 VERY good chances to score, in addition to their goal. Aside from the one mistake on defense SA had that led to Marquez’s goal, I don’t remember SA being out of position defensively.

    I’ll say this — no one better relax around SA.

    As for Mexico, WTF happened to them? They looked very much like the team US had been beating regularly in the last few years. A lot of possession that led to only a few chances, and lack of discipline on defense against counter-attack in the 2nd half.

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  3. Vela starting was probably a mistake, that won’t be repeated. Good to see Mexico get only one card. If that continues they win the group.

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  4. just like the LA/RSL game. the commentator said, “here is why i think the flag stayed down…it DEFLECTED off a defender”

    If he knew the rules, he would know that if it was viewed as a deflection, it would be offsides! it’s sad how these soccer professional don’t even know the rules…

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  5. you clearly do not know the laws of the game if you truely think that. please google, “Law 11 FIFA” and watch the tutorial. it is CLEAR AS DAY.

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  6. omg, another offsides discussion. the law says you are, “offsides where you are behind the SECOND TO LAST defender”. Defender is defined as ALL opposing team members, including the GK. if the said “last defender”, then the GK would have to move out of goal to ever put someone in an offside position.

    Do we need to link Law 11 tutorial again?!?! It was a great call by the official. (my bracket had 2-1 mexico win, so trust me, i wanted it to count)

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  7. whoops, double post, my bad.

    i agree that Franco should be out, Guardado should be in (imo, one of their most dynamic and game changing players).

    but i disagree that Blanco is done. i think he brings a lot, and should possibly start.

    and yeah, conejo is too damned excited, and yeah, looked awful on the shot off the post.

    as much as the perm bothers me, i agree, start Ochoa or the Chivas goalie.

    Reply
  8. earning a point against the host nation, who have always advanced out of the group stage, is a good result.

    Mexico should be optimistic.

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  9. Ugh. Well, as a Mexico supporter, I’m not sure how I feel about this game yet. A point’s a point, and all it might take is another win to ensure the second round.

    Even before the match started I knew this team wasn’t set up properly. Any Mexican fan who knows anything could have told you that Franco probably should not have started, OCHOA SHOULD HAVE STARTED, and GUARDADO SHOULD HAVE STARTED. I swear, I thought Perez gave up when that one almost-goal hit the post. He just stood there flailing madly. He honestly looks like he’s way too excited all the time, as if he’s surprised to even be here. Well, he should.

    Aguirre needs to seriously make some changes for the France match. As much as I want to say Blanco is done, Mexico still needs him. If only to occasionally save the team from itself or its coach late in the game. Dos Santos looked alright, even if he was generally uncreative and kept running into SA’s defense in the middle of the box. He had two nice shots,though. Nice job from Marquez getting the job done when he needed to.

    People are seriously underrating South Africa. They’ve been playing very well and aren’t going to be pushovers in the group stage. I know everyone got a bad impression from them during the Confed Cup, but they’ve seriously upped their game. They’ve got a good coach, they’ve got speed, and they’re a counterattack threat.

    Also @Second_City, I don’t know what Mexican supporters you’ve been seeing, but no one I know is calling this team “elite.” Everyone knows they have serious flaws and everyone knows the shortcomings and history. Sure, there are expectations to do well and make it into the quarters, but until we consistently challenge teams outside of Mexico, we’re not going to be quite there.

    I’m really excited to see this next match between Uruguay and France. There are so many questions surrounding this group that I don’t even know where to start. I still think Mexico fights its way out. France is on upset alert. South Africa and Uruguay… we’ll know more in a week.

    Oh yeah, and I think we can all breathe a little easier now that the World Cup is finally here! And I’ll be even more excited when the U.S. takes on England. Please, oh please have the England flop come early…

    Reply
  10. earning a point against the host country, who have always advanced out of the group stages, is a good result.

    Mexico can remain optimistic.

    Reply
  11. That was a terrible call from the ref. He cheated mexico out of the game. Vela was not behind the goalkeeper before the ball was played. If the goalkeeper came out and miss the ball, then that’s just a bad move on his part. The goal was good and should have stand.

    Reply
  12. Who needs to hide?

    It’s Mexican supporters/pundits & morons that make countless failed attempts to promote this squad and nation as an “elite/super-power” team.

    Make statements like that, and it’s no wonder the Mexican chorus has suddenly toned down their hype when you’re lucky to draw the 83rd ranked nation in FIFA.

    Rankings or not, elite teams don’t draw against South Africa, no matter what continent they’re playing in.

    Mexico continues to overrate their ability & continues to hold 80 % possession with 80 misses on goal.

    Honestly, who needs to hide? Mexican supporters?

    Reply
  13. Official attendance for this opening match was 84,490 but the capacity for the venue is 94,700. The only reason I can think of to why it didn’t “sell out” was because they didn’t count all of the media members who took up entire sections of the stadium.

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  14. I don’t know much Spanish, but the excitement, energy and passion on that broadcast is probably worth it. This is the WORLD CUP, not Bolton-Blackburn Week 25, come on!

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  15. The only thing passionate coming from Martin Tyler today was the 50 reminders about how historic and incredible this World Cup is. Thanks Martin, I think we got that already.

    If he didn’t have an accent you people would be ripping him to shreds. But since ESPN and many American soccer fans are (wannabe) Euro-snobs, we’re stuck with English commentators who have the passion of a tree stump, and the arrogance to think we give a damn what they think about anything.

    Which would be alright if it wasn’t every game, but it sounds like it will be. I do find it absurd that an Englishman will be commentating on American television for USA-ENGLAND, of all games. Would any other country in the world do that? The guy can’t pronounce half our team, doesn’t care to, and doesn’t know a think about Bradley or anything USMNT. But ahh, he’s Martin Tyler! European football commentating legend! Yawn.

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  16. Guardado should have started the game. He’s the best overall player on the Mexican team. I hope Aguirre makes that one adjustment, or he will be going home very soon.

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  17. We all know Mexico can play much better than today, and I will take that as consolation. Also SA will advance…it’s called POLITICS!!!

    England vs Germany ’66

    Argentina vs Peru ’78

    Argentina vs England ’86

    France vs Brazil ’98

    Italy vs Australia ’06

    and on and on and on…

    Reply
  18. I loved Ives’ passing comment about 75 percent of the folks rooting for mexico were prolly from the US. I get showing pride for your heritage, but show some pride in the country that has given you so much. Almost as annoying as US soccer fans who’s “team” is Argentina or Spain….

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  19. I thought SA did a much better job neutralizing Dos Santos in the second half. He didn’t do much in the second half except dribble into SA’s defense and lose possession, although he did have some dangerous chances in the first half.

    I can see how he never played in the EPL. He doesn’t stay on his feet very well and can’t respond to physical play. He is fast. However, his play is one dimensional and predictable in the sense that he can only dribble, run at people, and shoot (most often not on frame of the goal) with his left foot. I didn’t see him give any fantastic passes (only some so-so crosses) although might have missed them?

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  20. I think this is Mexico’s best team ever. The are so strong and athletic. The convert all of their possesion into goals and they have a very intimidating GK.

    The sky is the limit for this team.

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  21. Probably dipped in Tecate. I can totally see him double fisting some churros during the break trying to get Mexico psyched up.

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  22. Agree. Tyler was completely clueless when it came to the US team, and now these clowns don’t know the basics of the offsides rule? Just because they have the accent doesn’t make them good …

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  23. Dos Santos was Mexico’s man of the match. Aguirre should have started Guardardo for Vela. He has some fine tuning to do before their next game.

    Bafana Bafana is very good when they get into their groove. They still make silly mistakes due to inexperience but they play beautiful football when they are clicking. It feels so so good to get the weight off my chest after seeing the opening match. The anticipation was unbearable leading up to this world cup.

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  24. HA! noob, that commentator does that with everyone’s name. Thought that won’t stop you or everyone from whining, thats the American way.

    Reply

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