Aguirre Proud as Mexico Overcome Nerves to Win World Cup Opener

Mexico began their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, overcoming opening-match nerves despite a performance coach Javier Aguirre felt could have been stronger.

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This could have been a 4-0 match, but people were happy.

Julian Quinones put the co-hosts ahead with a composed finish, and Raul Jimenez doubled the lead with a second-half header. Mexico, seeking to end a seven-match wait for an opening-game win at the World Cup, ultimately secured the three points against a South African side that finished with nine men.

South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole was sent off five minutes after halftime for a foul, and Themba Zwane followed him off the pitch in the 84th minute for violent conduct. Mexico's Cesar Montes was also dismissed late in the game.

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It is the start of the World Cup, we left the nerves behind and we go with three points. Now we are thinking about what is next.

"This could have been a 4-0 match, but people were happy," Aguirre told reporters. "It is the start of the World Cup, we left the nerves behind and we go with three points. Now we are thinking about what is next." He added, "We didn't play well in the first half. It could have ended 3-0 easily. We were superior in the first part, but the score did not reflect that. We complicated things for ourselves."

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We didn't play well in the first half. It could have ended 3-0 easily. We were superior in the first part, but the score did not reflect that. We complicated things for ourselves.