MEXICO CITY – South Africa’s World Cup campaign got off to a disastrous start as two red cards condemned Bafana Bafana to a 2-0 defeat against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday night.

Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were both sent off as Hugo Broos’s side finished with nine men in front of a raucous crowd of 80 824 in Mexico City, ensuring the co-hosts’ opening day celebrations went according to plan.

Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scored the goals that gave Mexico their first ever victory in a World Cup opener, putting them firmly in control of Group A and leaving South Africa facing an uphill battle to progress from the group stages.

The nightmare began early for South Africa when Quinones fired Mexico ahead after just nine minutes, drilling a low shot through the legs of captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams after Sithole was caught in possession whilst trying to play out from the back.

Sithole’s torrid afternoon ended shortly after half-time when he was shown a straight red card in the 49th minute for bundling over Brian Gutierrez when the Mexican midfielder was clean through on goal.

Playing with 10 men, South Africa’s hopes of salvaging something from the match evaporated in the 67th minute when Jimenez, the Wolverhampton Wanderers striker, nodded home at the far post following a slick counter-attack and cross from Roberto Alvarado.

The misery was compounded in the 84th minute when substitute Zwane received his marching orders following a VAR review for an arm to the face of Alvarado.

Mexico were also reduced to 10 men in the dying moments when defender Cesar Montes was sent off for a clumsy challenge on Khulisa Mudau on the edge of the penalty area, but by then the damage had been done.

Speaking after the match, Broos accepted the first dismissal but questioned the second. “The first red card, I don’t think we have to say something about it but the second red card I think the Mexican player blocked my player, the referee decides something else,” he said.

“So it is a pity that we have to finish this game with nine players. I think my team played a good game, some moments in the game Mexico even desperate, they didn’t know how to find the spaces. But we must try and be better in the next game when we have the ball.”

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre revealed his players had battled nerves before securing the historic result. “When you’re starting out the World Cup, of course your legs will shake,” Aguirre said. “Never in 25 years had anyone had any cramps but three of them had cramps today.”

The Estadio Azteca, which became the only stadium to host matches at three different World Cups, provided an intimidating atmosphere that Broos had warned his players about before kick-off. The Mexican fans greeted each completed pass with raucous chants of “Ole!” in the opening minutes as South Africa struggled to cope with the occasion.

South Africa now face an uphill task to qualify from Group A, with fixtures against South Korea and the Czech Republic still to come. Mexico, meanwhile, will be confident of progressing to the knockout rounds after finally breaking their opening game curse.

The 2026 tournament, the biggest edition in World Cup history, continues this weekend with matches across venues in Mexico, the United States and Canada.

ALSO READ: Bafana Bafana to face Mexico again in World Cup opener, 16 years after historic 2010 match