South Africa were denied a dream start to the 2010 World Cup after their opening Group A encounter with Mexico ended 1-1.
Marquez cancels out Tshabalala strike in Jo'burg
South Africa were denied a dream start to the 2010 World Cup after their opening Group A encounter with Mexico ended 1-1.
A sublime finish from Siphiwe Tshabalala had put Bafana Bafana within 11 minutes of victory, however Rafael Marquez levelled matters to ensure an absorbing contest finished all square.
Mexico, who dominated the first half, were made to pay for missing numerous chances when Tshabalala expertly latched on to Teko Modise's through ball and calmly lashed the ball past Oscar Perez 10 minutes into the second half.
The celebration which followed was something special, however the majority of the 90,000 fans inside Soccer City were to be denied a famous win.
After offering little in the way of attacking threat during the second period, defensive midfielder Marquez neatly controlled Andres Guardado's cross and fired home to level the scores.
Both sides pressed for a winner, and Katlego Mphela almost won it for the hosts but his last minute effort bounced back off a post.
Pressure
Mexico kicked off the first Finals to be held in Africa, and so nearly got off to a dream start with just two minutes on the clock.
Full-back Paul Aguillar's low teasing cross caused panic in the penalty area and, with goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune stranded on the floor, Aaron Mokoena dived in to deny Giovani dos Santos a certain goal.
Mexico continued to dominate possession and territory in the opening exchanges as the occasion appeared to be getting the better of the hosts.
El Tri should have made their pressure tell on 15 minutes, Giovani's pinpoint corner was inch-perfect, but the arriving Guillermo Franco headed over from six yards.
Efrain Juarez was the first man to be cautioned on 18 minutes when he prevented a quick free-kick taking place.
Giovani, who spent much of last season on loan at Galatasaray from parent club Tottenham Hotspur, continued to wreak havoc through the middle and his fizzing drive nearly saw the deadlock broken in spectacular fashion minutes later.
Reneilwe Letsholonyane joined Juarez in the book on 27 minutes when he cynically ended another menacing run through the middle from Giovani.
The wave of Mexican pressure continued and only an instinctive stop from Khune prevented Franco putting Javier Aguirre's men into a deserved lead.
Carlos Vela then saw a cross-cum-shot flash wide and Giovani had a shot deflected over as the hosts failed to deal with the movement and trickery of their opponents.
The ball did hit the South African net from the resulting corner, however Mexican celebrations were cut short by the linesman's flag after he correctly flagged Vela offside.
Bafana Bafana put together their first meaningful attack three minutes before the break, quick interchange in the midfield eventually ending with Mexico nervously putting the ball behind for a corner.
Fierce drive
That gave the hosts some new-found belief and a dangerous cross from Modise was inches away from finding the head of the onrushing Tshabalala.
After ending the first half strongly, South Africa continued to press forward after the break as Everton playmaker Pienaar saw more of the ball.
And on 55 minutes the stadium erupted as Bafana Bafana went ahead courtesy of a stunning left-footed finish from Tshabalala.
With the Mexico backline caught square, Modise slipped the rampaging left-winger away and his fierce drive from just inside the area sailed past Perez and into the far top corner.
Mexico responded well, Giovani skipping inside and unleashing a rasping effort of his own which brought the best out of Khune.
The home side were content to play on the counter-attack thereafter and Modise nearly doubled Bafana Bafana's lead on 70 minutes but Perez was out quickly to block with his legs.
Mexico coach Aguirre rung the changes in search of a route back into the game, Vela and Franco both making way for Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Javier Hernandez respectively.
And, without threatening at all in the second period, Mexico grabbed a lifeline 11 minutes from time when Barcelona's Marquez sidefooted home after poor defending from the hosts.
A short corner was played in towards the back post by Guardado, and Marquez was allowed all the time in the world to control and take aim past the helpless Khune.
Mexico had the momentum in the final stages, but it was South Africa who could, and perhaps should, have won it when Mphela struck a post late on.
