\n<\/p>\n
Three players were sent off as World Cup co-hosts Mexico defeated South Africa in a dramatic opening match at a packed Azteca Stadium.<\/b><\/p>\n
South Africa finished with nine men, while Mexico were reduced to 10 in the closing moments.<\/p>\n
Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio produced the flurry of red cards, dismissing South Africa’s Yaya Sithole for denying a goalscoring opportunity and Themba Zwane for a slap, then sending off Mexico’s Cesar Montes for a late foul.<\/p>\n
Only four red cards were shown in the entire Qatar 2022 World Cup, while three had never been shown in a tournament-opening game before.<\/p>\n
Long before any hint of that turn of events, Mexico delighted their fans with the first goal of the finals after only nine minutes.<\/p>\n
South Africa midfielder Sithole was tackled by Erik Lira and the ball dropped to Julian Quinones whose powerful strike went though the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.<\/p>\n
Quinones almost made it 2-0 just before half-time, but his 12-yard first-time shot bounced off the foot of the right post.<\/p>\n
The hosts’ task became much easier when Sithole was sent off five minutes into the second half, bringing down Brian Gutierrez when he was going through on goal.<\/p>\n
Striker Raul Jimenez, 35, sealed the victory with his first goal at a World Cup, heading in powerfully from Roberto Alvarado’s cross for Mexico’s second, a moment that appeared to bring tears from the veteran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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