Mexico rides emotional crowd support to historic World Cup win over South Africa - BERITAJA

MEXICO CITY — FIFA president Gianni Infantino described Mexico City Stadium arsenic a venue “blessed by the gods” and a “true cathedral of soccer.”

Azteca Stadium, arsenic about group cognize it, is steeped successful shot history and is now the only venue to big 3 World Cup opening ceremonies. But the Mexican nationalist squad had ne'er overmuch World Cup occurrence astatine the venue.

On Thursday, spurred connected by about of the 80,824 fans successful attendance and forwards Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, Mexico managed to conclusion South Africa 2-0 and securing its first opening lucifer victory.

Mexico opened the scoring successful the ninth infinitesimal erstwhile Quiñones capitalized connected a protect correction by South Africa and fired a changeable down the middle, betwixt the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. The striker, a apical scorer successful the Saudi Pro League, instantly ran disconnected to observe pinch the bench, marking the first extremity of the tournament. The crowd responded by throwing brew into the air.

Mexico continued to property pinch galore chances successful the first half, including different changeable by Quiñones that deed the station and different awesome prevention by Williams, who was South Africa’s champion player.

“We were acold superior successful the first half; we could person been up 3-0,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said.

South Africa was reduced to 10 men conscionable arsenic the 2nd half began erstwhile Sphephelo Sithole brought down Brian Gutiérrez, who was heading toward the extremity unmarked. Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio showed a reddish card.

“We played well; location were moments erstwhile Mexico didn’t cognize what to do and our statement was very good,” said Hugo Broos, South Africa’s coach.

It seemed the lucifer was going to beryllium easier for the Mexicans pinch South Africa short-handed, but fans began to boo the Mexican players aft they stopped attacking and appeared nervous.

Seeing his players’ lackluster capacity connected the field, Aguirre responded pinch substitutions: bringing connected 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, a instrumentality favorite, arsenic good arsenic Luis Chávez, to reshape the midfield.

Mexico’s Raúl Jiménez cries while hugging teammate Roberto Alvarado aft scoring against South Africa successful Mexico City connected Thursday to unfastened the World Cup.

(Natacha Pisarenko / Ap Photo/natacha Pisarenko)

“[It was] the commencement of the World Cup. It’s an aggravated atmosphere,” Aguirre said.

“In 25 games, we’ve ne'er had players pinch cramps — coming we had three. It was a very intense, affectional state. It shows that the mounting weighed connected them a little. Not connected everyone.”

Shortly aft the substitutions, Roberto Álvarado crossed the shot from the correct to Raúl Jiménez, who headed it past South Africa’s goalkeeper, Williams, successful the 67th minute.

South Africa was reduced to 9 men aft Themba Zwane struck Álvarado disconnected the ball. After consulting the video assisted referee, the charismatic gave Zwane a reddish card.

“I deliberation you could judge the first reddish card,” said Broos. “I deliberation the 2nd 1 is debatable. It was a spot harsh connected the referee’s part. We person 2 players who won’t beryllium capable to play successful the adjacent match.”

After the 2nd reddish card, Mexico took its ft disconnected the state again and was met pinch whistles from the crowd, who were quiet for much goals.

Mexico and South Africa faced disconnected successful beforehand of 80,824 fans astatine Mexico City Stadium, much commonly known arsenic Azteca Stadium, connected Thursday to unfastened the World Cup.

(David Ramos / Getty Images)

Mexico’s César Montes was sent disconnected successful stoppage clip for bringing down Khuliso Mudau extracurricular the container arsenic he was heading toward the goal.

With the win, Mexico leads its group pinch 3 points and waited to spot the consequence of South Korea versus the Czech Republic successful Guadalajara later Thursday. South Africa has zero points. Mexico’s adjacent lucifer is successful Guadalajara connected June 18 against South Korea, while South Africa faces the Czech Republic successful Atlanta.

“We request the adjacent 3 days to get complete the disappointment and fatigue,” Broos said, earlier addressing his team’s specified 2 shots connected goal. “We person to activity connected our discourtesy because it wasn’t capable today.”

The lucifer marked the debut of Mora, the youngest subordinate successful the World Cup.

“For his first game, he didn’t disappoint,” said Aguirre.