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Mexico ignited their World Cup party with a ascendant 2-0 triumph implicit nine-man South Africa connected Thursday (June 11, 2026) arsenic the biggest ever variation of the planetary footballing showpiece kicked disconnected astatine the iconic Estadio Azteca.
Julian Quinones scored the opening extremity of the tourney and seasoned striker Raul Jimenez added a 2nd arsenic the co-hosts' bid for qualification from Group A got disconnected to creaseless start.
South Africa meantime ne'er looked similar spoiling the opening time fiesta, and finished with lone 9 men aft Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off.
The Mexican-colored red, greenish and achromatic fume from pre-game fireworks had hardly dissipated earlier Quinones fired the hosts into the pb connected 9 minutes, drilling a debased changeable done the legs of South Africa's goalkeeper and skipper Ronwen Williams.
A deafening roar cascaded down from the stands of the Azteca, the footballing cathedral that became the lone stadium to big games astatine 3 antithetic World Cups.
South Africa manager Hugo Broos had warned his players to beryllium acceptable for the intimidating ambiance created by a capableness 80,824 assemblage astatine the imposing factual arena.
But South Africa's players looked to person a atrocious lawsuit of signifier fright arsenic Mexico's fans greeted each completed walk with a raucous chorus of "Ole!" successful the opening minutes.
Sithole seemed peculiarly affected, being caught successful possession trying to play retired of the backmost for Quinones' opening goal.
Sithole's miserable day ended with a 49th infinitesimal dismissal aft bundling implicit Mexico's Brian Gutierrez erstwhile cleanable done connected goal.
Mexico rammed location their vantage successful the 67th minute, with a good antagonistic onslaught culminating successful Roberto Alvarado crossing for Wolverhampton Wanderers guardant Jimenez to motion location astatine the acold post.
It got worse for South Africa successful the 84th infinitesimal erstwhile Zwane was dismissed aft a VAR reappraisal for flinging an limb into the look of Alvarado.
There was inactive clip for precocious play erstwhile Mexican defender Cesar Montes was shown a reddish paper for a clumsy situation connected Khulisa Mudau connected the borderline of the punishment area.
