South Africa and Mexico rue purple playing cards in fiesty World Cup opener

Mexico kicked off the2026 World Cup in successful vogue, however it was the purple playing cards, not the targets, that outlined one of the crucial chaotic opening matches within the event’s historical past.

Targets from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez gave the co-hosts a 2-0 win on the Estadio Azteca, however the scoreline was not the headline coming away from the curtain-raiser.

Three straight purple playing cards within the second half left the sport ending at ten versus 9, the primary World Cup opener in historical past to characteristic three dismissals.

Quinones broke the impasse with the earliest purpose to open a World Cup since Philipp Lahm’s strike for Germany towards Costa Rica after six minutes in 2006.

Talking afterwards, he was delighted. “Many issues got here into my head like celebrating and screaming with pleasure,” he mentioned.

“I went to the bench to see my friends as a result of they’ve given me a lot confidence. I wished to really feel that pleasure with them.”

South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole was proven a straight purple card early within the second half after pulling again Brian Gutierrez who was clear by on purpose, successfully killing Bafana Bafana’s hopes of a comeback.

Raul Jimenez then made it 2-0, heading residence from shut vary to spark extra Azteca celebrations.

Quinones paid tribute to his veteran strike companion. “We actually congratulated him as a result of he offers lots to the crew,” he mentioned.

“Being a part of a crew is our satisfaction and it’s great he continues so as to add targets to his profession as a participant in our nationwide crew.”

Crimson playing cards the headline

Then got here the controversy. Cesar Montes was proven a straight purple card for denying an apparent goalscoring alternative after a slipshod full-body sort out on a South Africa ahead.

Montes will now miss the subsequent group recreation, and Quinones didn’t mince his phrases. “There have been some errors that have been very expensive,” he mentioned flatly. “Being despatched off is one thing you may keep away from.”

The South Africa supervisor was additionally clearly pissed off in his post-match evaluation. “The primary purple card, I don’t suppose we now have to say one thing about it,” he conceded, earlier than turning his fireplace on Montes’ dismissal.

“The second purple card, I believe the Mexican participant blocked my participant, that occurs, the referee decides one thing else, so it’s a little bit a pity that we now have to complete this recreation with 9 gamers.”

Broos additionally insisted his aspect weren’t outclassed. “I believe my crew performed a superb recreation, some moments within the recreation Mexico have been even determined, they didn’t know how one can discover the areas, so every part was good.

“The one factor that have to be higher within the subsequent recreation is when we now have the ball. That was not so good as we speak so we now have to work on it.”