00:04The historic Azteca Stadium, which saw Pelé in 70 and Maradona with his hand of God in 86,
00:11lift the World Cup, becomes the first to host three final tournaments.
00:15The first pan-continental finals, the first to have three host nations,
00:19the first to have a host nation at war with one of the competing countries.
00:23Contentious, confounding, but let's hope dazzling on the pitch.
00:27It's a repeat of the 2010 opener, 16 years ago today,
00:31when a South African roar bellowed through an entire continent as they opened the scoring.
00:3772,000 in the stadium, and the whole world awaits.
00:49And so it kicks off the greatest extravaganza on earth,
00:53the 23rd FIFA World Cup, the biggest, the most bloated, the most controversial,
00:58the most divisive, let's hope the most exciting, Mexico.
01:03One of the three hosts in the green and white, kicking from left to right.
01:14The ball down the line by Alvarado, Reyes with the cross,
01:17and only chance could save.
01:19First chance of these World Cup finals,
01:22and it's stopped by Romain Williams, who got down very, very well.
01:25Fine attack by Mexico.
01:27Jimenez with the run-in from the deep, caught it well enough.
01:41Good high press by Mexico.
01:44Quignones, the home side, take the lead with the first goal in the World Cup finals.
01:52Julio Quignones, who's been in sparkling club four,
01:55the man born in Colombia, naturalised Mexican in October 23rd.
02:02And right now, a Mexican national hero.
02:05This is what their manager loves them to do, press high with intensity.
02:10The ball has won back very well.
02:121-0 to Mexico, it's been coming.
02:16They were impressive in qualifying.
02:24Gutiérrez.
02:27Helt on by Fidalgo.
02:31In comes a cross, plucked out by Romain Williams.
02:35They're playing all the football, Mexico.
02:41Good cross in, Jimenez!
02:43Can't save!
02:46Nearly two for Mexico.
02:48Twice he's denied, Raul Jimenez in the game.
02:55Quignones.
02:57Shot was blocked.
02:59Back in by Alvarado.
03:00Huff back again to Quignones, off the post!
03:05Denied his second in the game.
03:08South Africa cannot deal with the Mexican movement in or around their box.
03:14And a low shot, bent against the post.
03:23Played short.
03:25McQueen up.
03:27It's a better ball back into the middle.
03:32And the first meaningful effort on the Mexican goal.
03:37Mbikazele Mbukaze.
03:42Keep a sword from a long way out.
03:48Given away.
03:50Jimenez.
03:51Quignones.
03:53Fidalgo on the overlap.
03:54Doesn't use it.
03:56Good break here by Gutiérrez.
03:58Stuffed a shot.
04:01Big opportunity right at the end of the first half.
04:04The first half dominated by Mexico.
04:06Who took that early lead.
04:08They've created the better chances.
04:09They've been by far and away the better side.
04:12But they could have done with the second goal here.
04:20They're under pressure here straight away.
04:22In the middle.
04:23Waiting was Quignones.
04:26And the pass didn't come in.
04:28But the shot does.
04:31From Gutiérrez.
04:33Fidalgo couldn't get the cross into the middle.
04:35It was razored in by Gutiérrez.
04:38But over.
04:44Jimenez.
04:45Did well.
04:46Good ball forward.
04:48Run here from Gutiérrez.
04:49From the deep.
04:50Brought down.
04:51Right on the edge.
04:55Was it denial.
04:56Of a goal scoring opportunity.
04:58It's a red card.
05:01Lovely move by Mexico.
05:04And Cepelo.
05:05Citole.
05:06Tumbled into the back here of Gutiérrez.
05:09Clean through on goal.
05:10And brought down.
05:12And in the opening game of World Cup 20-26.
05:16We have a red card.
05:19Can he add to his 46 Mexican international goals?
05:23Give them the two goal.
05:25Cushion.
05:26Difficult task.
05:28Goes for the crunch.
05:29Gutiérrez.
05:31Gallardo.
05:41Oh, what a decent effort.
05:43Stung the fingers of Ranjel.
05:45I won't bring more Diva.
05:47It's only their second effort on target.
05:59Gimenez wants it in the middle.
06:01He's there.
06:01It's 2-0.
06:06He's had a super game.
06:09And he has 47 goals for Mexico.
06:12Holding his run.
06:14Waiting for the moment.
06:16Got away from Mudao.
06:19Cibici had covered across too far.
06:21There was the space.
06:22There was the header.
06:23There's 2-0.
06:26Raw emotion.
06:30He means so much to Mexican football.
06:34Here's Zvan.
06:38He's got Apollos there in support.
06:40Who has the ball now?
06:42Let's go.
06:43The man down.
06:44Apollos Jinks.
06:45Gets the shot away.
06:46It's probably been their best.
06:53Roberto Alvarado is the man on the deck.
06:59The referee is being told here to go and have a look at the screen.
07:04And South Africa could have two red cards on the opening day.
07:0880,800 people in the Azteca.
07:11The grand old Azteca could see more drama.
07:18Decision.
07:19Direct for the kick.
07:20Red card.
07:21He's gone.
07:23Tembers van.
07:26They're down to nine on the opening day.
07:30A disastrous opening day for South Africa.
07:34There could be more than just a one-match ban.
07:36And that might be his tournament over.
07:41Vega.
07:44No free kick given.
07:49Mcguenac.
07:50Can South Africa get something?
07:52Here's Mudao.
07:53He's put in a good shift and was taken out there.
07:56By Cesar Montes.
07:59It's a long way from goal.
08:02What Mexico are appealing about here.
08:04They believe they should have had a free kick down the other end.
08:07Long way from goal.
08:08It wasn't denial, I'm sure.
08:11Oh, the referee thinks it is.
08:14Three red cards in the opening game.
08:17Well, we expected a referee in clampdown early on.
08:21He's taken him out.
08:22That's definite.
08:23It's the first time there have been three red cards in a World Cup Finals match since 2006, Portugal against
08:31the Netherlands, when four players went off.
08:35By Cesar Montes.
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