The FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico opened on June 11 with a strange match in Mexico City. In it, the Mexicans beat the South Africans, who were surprisingly weak compared to them, 2:0, and there were more penalties in the meeting than goals – as many as three.
The North American World Cup opened with Shakira, Andrea Bocelli, folk dances in masks and intricate costumes, as well as pictures from the previous championship, the matches of which were hosted by Mexico and its main Azteca Stadium. From that same championship in 1986: the “golden” Argentina team, incomparable Diego Maradona, “Hand of God”… The coaches of the teams that had the opportunity to start the tournament earlier than the rest must have shed a tear of nostalgia, looking at them. Javier Aguirre and Hugo Bros then, 40 years ago, played in a tournament and met each other. The Mexican team of midfielder Aguirre prevailed in the group over the Belgian team of defender Bros – 2:1. But she eventually moved on. The Mexicans were eliminated in the quarterfinal penalty shootout against the Germans. The Belgians reached the semi-finals, in which they were slowed down by the future champions. However, they were, of course, lucky, because they had to go in the first round of the playoffs, falling under the magnificent USSR national team. The Soviet team was ruined by the judge.
And the “wave” that the fans sent through the stands a quarter of an hour after the start of this match also comes from that 1986 World Cup. It usually occurs when there is a reason for celebration. And there was a good reason. Somehow everything was surprisingly good for the Mexicans. Well, or bad for the South Africans – it depends on what angle you look at it from. It might seem to some that the Mexican national team is playing brilliantly, so much so that there is a temptation to think that it was in vain that it was confidently classified as a team that does not have the prospect of great achievements. Appreciate these speeds, this pressure! And for some – that either their rivals, most of whom had hitherto hit their mark only in regional, African tournaments, had lost their nerves from excitement, or that Bros, training them for the North American campaign, had messed something up. In general, they don’t know how to position themselves correctly in the back, how to advance from their penalty area—they are twitchy and timid.
At one point, South Africa bounced back thanks to their goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Raul Jimenez, the most dangerous Mexican striker, after the cross, hit it straight away from point-blank range, and the ball flew off his foot like a bullet. Williams did not receive a standing ovation for his miraculous leap only because the audience consisted almost entirely of Mexican sympathizers, and they, of course, wanted Williams’ reaction to let him down.
But soon the South Africans scored themselves a goal. Williams, passing the pass to Yaya Sithole, did not seem to take into account the fact that in his team he, the goalkeeper, was the only one who was not overcome by jitters. Sithole turned with the ball so slowly that a player on crutches would have robbed him. And then Julian Quinones, as playful as a cheetah, ran at the defender. He was not going to forgive such a mistake.
Subsequent events proved that sometimes an early missed goal is lucky for an outsider.
He definitely liberated the South Africans a little. After some time, they could already be seen in the opposing half, straining the center of the Mexican national team’s defense. Her pillar Cesar Monntes He stood with dignity for the honor of Lokomotiv Moscow. Although a small firefighter has already appeared in the Mexican rear. But finally the ball found Lyle Foster, the main South African hope in attack, in the penalty area. His header was so-so, but before that he was noted only for sloppy passes to nowhere.
However, towards the end of the first half, the South African team began to shake again. She missed Himnes, who rushed towards the goalkeeper, miraculously dodging trouble. Then she allowed the Mexicans to have fun on the right flank, favored for powerful attacks, and Brian Gutierrez’s discount to Julian Quiñones could transform into the first double of the championship. Quinones slammed the ball into the upright.
Immediately after the break, the South Africans worked hard to put the ball into their own goal. It didn’t work out.
But this did not mean that they no longer wanted to fake it. A few minutes later, Brian Gutierrez must have been amazed that he received the ball, seeing a completely empty space in front of him. None of the defenders. Almost no one since Yaya Sithole is nearby. But Gutierrez deftly and competently turned the trajectory in such a way that Sithole, in fact, had no choice but to stick into him. The violation was obvious. And referee Wilton Sampaio couldn’t do it without a red card, the first removal of the World Cup. A “last resort” foul is what they call it in football.
Jimenez executed the standard almost from the penalty line stupidly. But there was no point in lamenting this for the Mexicans. The rivals, already toothless, found themselves in the minority.
In the middle of the second half, a remarkable event happened. Together with Dynamo Moscow’s Luis Chavez, Javier Aguirre brought Gilberto Mora from the bench. The guy is not even 18 years old. The youngest player in this championship. And in the long history of world championships, there were only five football players a little younger – let’s say Pele.
After this substitution, the Mexicans hit the South African goal. The perfect combination – not a single blurry stroke – was completed by Raul Jimenez, who immediately burst into tears, as if not a 35-year-old veteran, but a youth like Mora. But you can understand a person. This is Jimenez’s fourth world championship. But in the previous three, he, a good forward, did not score. And then he scored in front of an adoring public.
To completely spoil the impression of themselves, the South Africans pulled out another trick at the end of the match.
Wilton Sampaio, apparently, did not believe his eyes at first: Themba Zwane swoops down on Roberto Alvarado and with a hard MMA technique – with a grab by the neck – lays him down on the lawn. Didn’t it just seem like it? What if it’s just a struggle? But no, I checked the episode with VAR and sent off Zwane.
And Cesar Montes, so careful in the Russian championship, decided not to be left behind and cut down Khuliso Mudau so brutally, as if the South African was rushing not to the Mexican penalty area, but to Montes’ apartment. In general, also deletion. Such a strange opening of the championship under Shakira and red.
