Mexico opened the World Cup as co-hosts with a controlled 2-0 victory over South Africa at Mexico City Stadium, a match defined by two clinical goals and three red cards that underlined the contest’s intensity while also putting Mexico in a strong early position to move towards the round of 32.

Julian Quinones struck after nine minutes and Raul Jimenez added a second-half header, while the referee dismissed Yaya Sithole, Themba Zwane and Mexico captain Cesar Montes, leaving South Africa with nine players and Mexico with ten as the tally of red cards in this tournament already moved close to the four shown across all 64 matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Quinones produced a standout display in attack, leading Mexico for shots, successful dribbles and line-breaking passes in the final third, and the early finish also entered the record books as the first time a CONCACAF player scored the opening goal at a single World Cup edition, adding another layer to an already significant occasion for the forward.

Mexico extended an impressive record in tournament openers, remaining unbeaten in the first match at each of the last eight World Cups with six wins and two draws since a 1-0 defeat to Norway in 1994, while Jimenez, starting a World Cup match for the first time at 35 years and 37 days, became the oldest player to score on a first World Cup start since Iran defender Yahya Golmohammadi achieved the feat at 35 years and 84 days in 2006.

Quinones underlined how the occasion felt special for the team and crowd, saying, “I’m happy and excited to score my first World Cup goal, in such a spectacular stadium with amazing fans,” before stressing the collective effort by adding, “It’s important for me to acknowledge what my team-mates did to secure the first three points.”

Quinones also spoke about the bond with supporters, explaining, “We’ve felt the support of the fans these past few days; we’re connected, and it really showed,” and that connection was reflected on the pitch, especially in the second goal, which followed a flowing passing sequence involving almost the entire outfield unit before Jimenez finished the move.

That combination play was highlighted by data analysts, who noted how many players contributed to the move that led to Jimenez’s strike against South Africa, with the sequence underlining Mexico’s collective structure in possession and their ability to work the ball patiently through the lines before finding space in the penalty area.

Mexico World Cup match incidents, statistics and next test

The contest’s disciplinary story was striking, with South Africa first losing Sithole and then Zwane, both sent off to leave the visitors two players short, before Montes collected a late red card for Mexico in stoppage time, meaning this single fixture produced three dismissals and left the current World Cup already one red card shy of the full total from Qatar 2022.

Jimenez’s goal arrived after half-time when the forward met a precise delivery from Roberto Alvarado, guiding a header into the net to seal the result, with Mexico’s attacking numbers showing Quinones leading in key metrics while the team overall managed the game tempo once ahead, even as the red cards altered the contest’s rhythm and structure.

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Alvarado described the experience of contributing in front of the home crowd, saying, “It was a really beautiful feeling, something beyond words, something I had always dreamed of: playing a match of this magnitude, at home, with these fans,” and explained that Mexico aimed to start aggressively by pressing early before later slowing the pace and seeking more control of possession.

Alvarado detailed how the decisive cross developed, adding, “The game plan is always to go out and press. After that, we dropped the tempo a bit, but maybe we lacked a little more patience and a little more possession of the ball. I’m happy that Raul was able to score that goal. At half-time, he had told me to send in a cross for him. I didn’t think twice, and I knew that in that area it could be dangerous. Thank God I got the assist, and Raul was able to score that goal.”

Mexico, now well placed in Group A after defeating South Africa and continuing a long unbeaten run in World Cup openers, turn attention to the next fixture against Son Heung-min’s South Korea, a match that will further test Quinones, Jimenez and team-mates as they seek to confirm early progress from the group stage.