VS.

The vuvuzelas were in full effect in Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg as the 2010 World Cup finally got underway. After words from FIFA President Sepp Blatter and South African President Jacob Zuma and handshakes from representatives of the South African and Mexican football associations, the ball started rolling and the opening match began.

The Mexicans came out strong the first 10 minutes as the Bafana Bafana probably experienced some nerves and El Tri took advantage. In the 2nd minute, Mexico's Paul Aguilar crossed into the box the ball was fumbled by South African keeper Itumeleng Khune and Giovani Dos Santos jumped on it and shot but South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena deflected it away safely.

The Mexicans continued to pressure the South African goal in the first half, Guille Franco missed open headers in the 14th & 39th minutes. In the 34th minute Carlos Vela chipped over the South Africa backline to a cutting Guille Franco in the box whose leaping touch was deflected away by Khune.

The first goal of the game appeared to have been scored off a corner when Dos Santos' corner kick bounced off Guille Franco's chest past Khune to an open Vela who poked the ball in at the far post. However, the goal was disallowed as Vela was called offside despite a South African defender sitting on the goal line.

South Africa settled their nerves towards the end of the first half and began to unlock the Mexican defense. In the 44th minute, Teko Modise played a nice pass to Siphiwe Tshabalala down the left side who sent a cross to striker Katlego Mphela but Mphela couldn't get his head to the ball and it sailed through the box untouched with no damage to Mexico.

In the 2nd half, the moment all of South Africa waited for came in the 54th minute off a well-played counter attack. A nice 1-2 with Steven Pienaar and Mphela at midfield freed Tshabalala as Mphela played a well-placed through ball down the left side to Tshabalala who got into the box behind the Mexican defense and fired a GOLAZO past Mexican keeper Oscar Perez in the upper corner of the goal for the 1-0 lead.(Photo © 2010 ZumaPress)

Mexico equalized in the 79th minute when a centering pass from Andres Guardado found Rafael Marquez alone in the 6 yard box. The Barcelona defender blasted the ball past Khune for the 1-1 score. A mistake by Mokoena kept Marquez and 2 other Mexican players on side putting Khune in an unenviable position.
(Photo © 2010 ZumaPress)

South Africa almost pulled out a dramatic 3 points in the 90th minute, when Khune sent a long ball up the pitch catching the Mexican backline off guard and playing Mphela behind the defense with a defender on his back, Mphela shot deflected off the near post as he tried to sneak a shot past Perez.

The final whistle blew and the match ended 1-1, South Africa is now unbeaten in 13 straight matches and South Africa keeps African teams unbeaten in World Cup opening matches. South Africa faces Uruguay next on the 16th in Tshwane/Pretoria while Mexico next takes on France on the 17th in Polokwane.

Go to FIFA's website to get the official match report.