Mexico analysis: home advantage takes effect in chaotic World Cup opener | OneFootball

Mexico’s players arrived in the capital knowing full well what their fans’ expectations were for their first meeting against South Africa in 16 years – win the game, and win it well.

And that is precisely what they did, as Raul Jiménez ended his wait for a World Cup goal as co-hosts Mexico coasted to a bizarre 2-0 win over South Africa that saw three red cards on opening night at the Mexico City Stadium.

Julián Quiñones got the co-hosts to the perfect start by slamming a powerful shot home after centre midfielder Yaya Sithole was caught taking a heavy touch 20 yards from goal, and came close to a second when he hit the base of the post.

Jiménez headed in the second to put the game beyond doubt either side of red cards to Sithole and Themba Zwane, before César Montes was shown red for the same offence as Sitole, as El Tri earned a first win over South Africa for 26 years.

Being the hosts and kicking off the World Cup always adds an extra layer of pressure, but El Tri also hadn’t beaten their opponents for nearly three decades. Their last victory came in 2000, a 4-2 victory in an international friendly.

Worse than that, though, was their exit at the group stage of Qatar 2022, having reached the knockout stages in the seven tournaments that came prior to that year.

But seeing defensive midfielder Érik Lira pressing his opponents as high as South Africa’s own penalty area, it was clear the co-hosts were evidently embracing said pressure.

Embracing the occasion proved key to the opener from Julián Quiñones, as Lira robbed Sithole of the ball in a dangerous position and the Al’Quadsiah striker slotted it into the net.

Quiñones outscored both Cristiano Ronaldo and Ivan Toney with Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League, with 33 goals to his name this season, and struck the ball with the confidence of a player that’s done just that.

The moment of the match, however, came when Jiménez got his dream moment with all of the thousands of home fans behind him, wheeling away in tears as he realised just how much a maiden World Cup goal in front of his people meant.

But there was perhaps more to Mexico’s home advantage than the fans and, indeed, two reds.

At 2,200 metres above sea level, the Mexico City Stadium is considerably higher than South Africa’s home, the FNB Stadium, making the air noticeably thinner than most places.

The Mexican players will have been well-acquainted with the environment, and took full advantage of it with their brave high press and ruthless finishing in front of goal.

Together with the deafening noise that greeted the South African players when possession changed hands, it meant Bafana Bafana were never quite comfortable and couldn’t find much to offer on the attacking front.

Mexico were in such a comfortable position in the capital, that Javier Aguirre gave a debut to 17-year-old Gilberto Mora – under half the age of the 35-year-old Wolves forward – who came on to a chorus of cheers around the ground.

Mora made history by becoming the sixth youngest player to feature in the World Cup finals, just behind the great Pele himself, in a good day’s work for Mexico – besides their captain Montes’ arguably harsh dismissal late on.

Now the side tipped as favourites to top Group A and right the wrong of Qatar 2022 are off to the dream start in their third tournament as hosts, before they face South Korea next Friday.

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