Mexico starts World Cup with win over nine-man South Africa

Mexico kicked off the World Cup party by defeating South Africa 2-0 in a tempestuous opening match at the iconic Azteca Stadium. The game, however, was more notable for its three red cards than its footballing quality, as both teams ended the match with reduced numbers.

Julian Quinones opened the scoring for the co-hosts early on, and Raul Jimenez sealed the victory with a second-half header. The match saw South Africa reduced to 10 men when Sphephelo Sithole was sent off early in the second half, followed by his teammate Themba Zwane. Mexico's Cesar Montes was also dismissed in the final moments.

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This was a 4-0 match, we didn't play good enough, but people are happy.

Despite the win, Mexico's demanding coach Javier Aguirre was not entirely pleased. "This was a 4-0 match, we didn't play good enough, but people are happy," he told reporters. "It's the start of the World Cup - we've put the nerves behind us and now we have three points. We're thinking about what's next."

The match was the first 48-team edition of the World Cup and the first to be held across three countries. It was also the first time the Azteca Stadium hosted three World Cup openers. Mexico secured their first-ever opening match victory after seven previous attempts, and the fixture became the first World Cup opener to feature three red cards.

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It's the start of the World Cup - we've put the nerves behind us and now we have three points. We're thinking about what's next.