The opening goal came early in the 9th minute when Julián Quiñones capitalized on a well-constructed attacking move. He calmly slipped the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs, giving Mexico an immediate advantage and energizing the packed home crowd.
South Africa’s situation worsened in the 49th minute after midfielder Sphephelo Sithole received a straight red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Reduced to ten men, South Africa struggled to contain Mexico’s attacking pressure.
Mexico doubled their lead in the 66th minute through veteran striker Raúl Jiménez, who rose above the defense to head in a precise cross delivered by Roberto Alvarado. The goal marked a memorable World Cup moment for Jiménez, adding to his international legacy.
The match took another dramatic turn in the 83rd minute when South Africa were reduced to nine players following a VAR review that confirmed Themba Zwane’s dismissal for violent conduct. The incident further tilted control firmly in Mexico’s favor.
However, tension remained high until stoppage time, when Mexico captain César Montes was shown a straight red card for a tactical foul in the 91st minute, briefly leveling the numerical disadvantage on both sides in the closing moments.
Beyond the scoreline, the match entered World Cup history as the first opening fixture to feature three straight red cards, highlighting its intensity and disciplinary chaos. Mexico’s dominance was also reflected in the statistics, as they controlled 61% possession and produced 16 shots compared to South Africa’s 4.
With this result, Mexico not only secured a crucial win but also broke the historical 1-1 opening draw pattern seen between the two nations in the 2010 World Cup opener.
