06/11/26 06:38:00
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06/11 18:36 CDT Mexico gets off to roaring World Cup start with a 2-0 win over
South Africa in the opening match
Mexico gets off to roaring World Cup start with a 2-0 win over South Africa in
the opening match
By CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
AP Sports Writer
MEXICO CITY (AP) --- Mexico made an immediate impression on the largest World
Cup in history, giving the roaring home crowd at the iconic Azteca Stadium a
huge jolt of excitement four years after a major disappointment.
Mexico's players understood the intense pressure and high expectations they
were facing on Thursday in the opening match of the first 48-team World Cup
tournament. But they embraced their role and got off to a winning start by
beating South Africa 2-0 in a match that also produced three red cards.
"I made an effort to explain to them what a World Cup and an opening match on
home soil meant, but they are young and had to experience it for themselves,"
said Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, who played for his team the last time Mexico
hosted the tournament in 1986. "I can no longer talk about having played in a
home World Cup, because they already know what it's like."
Julin Quiones and Ral Jimnez scored the goals for Mexico, which is
co-hosting the 2026 tournament with Canada and the United States.
The Mexicans rebounded from the massive disappointment of being eliminated
after the group stage four years ago in Qatar. That followed seven straight
trips to the round the 16 --- an achievement that became more of a curse for
failing to reach the quarterfinals.
But there is hope this year. Mexico has reached the quarterfinals twice in its
history, and both times it was the host country --- in 1970 and 1986. Aguirre
was on that team in 1986.
In front of a capacity crowd of 80,824, Mexico got working fast and took the
lead in the ninth minute when Quiones scored. Jimnez added the second goal on
a header in 66th --- his 46th for Mexico but first in three World Cup
tournaments.
"We didn't play well in the first half, but we could have gone into the break
leading 3--0 and no one would have complained --- we were far superior,"
Aguirre said. "In the second half, it felt like we relaxed a bit, but starting
with a win is good, and we can certainly improve."
With his goal, Jimnez moved into a tie with Jared Borgetti for second place in
scoring for Mexico's national team. He is six goals shy of leader Javier
"Chicharito" Hernndez.
Jimnez wears a protective headguard because he was seriously injured in
November 2020 while playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Premier League
match against Arsenal. He fractured his skull and had to have surgery. He was
out for eight months and returned in July 2021.
South Africa players Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were both given red
cards, forcing the team to finish the match with only nine players. Mexico
defender Csar Montes was then given a red card in injury time.
It was the first time there were three red cards given in the opening match of
a World Cup tournament. And it's the most in a World Cup game since four were
handed out when Portugal played the Netherlands at the 2006 tournament in
Germany.
"This level is much higher than whatever level we played before. We played a
good team, and we played a good game. I saw a desperate Mexico," South Africa
coach Hugo Broos said. "We must improve in the next days. We'll get over the
disappointment."
Quiones, a 29-year-old forward who was born in Colombia, was the top scorer in
the Saudi league this season. He was one of six starting players who made their
World Cup debut for El Tri.
Mexico now has three points in Group A and will next play South Korea next
Thursday in Guadalajara. South Africa will play the Czech Republic on the same
day in Atlanta.
"It would be important (to win the group), but right now the only thing we're
thinking about is the match against Korea --- being better than them and trying
to win," Aguirre said. "We're going to take it step by step and see what the
future holds."
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
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