Mexico vs. South Africa: Rainbow Nation finds a hero in Tshabalala
South Africa鈥檚 midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala is now a hero in the Rainbow Nation after scoring a left-footed blast in the 55th minute of the Mexico vs. South Africa World Cup opener.
South Africa鈥檚 midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala, in yellow, scored the team's only goal, tying the Mexico vs. South Africa World Cup opener.
Ivan Sekretarev/AP
Siphiwe Tshabalala. Once you work out how to pronounce the name of South Africa鈥檚 midfielder, memorize it.
He鈥檚 now a hero in the Rainbow Nation after scoring a left-footed blast in the 55th minute of the Mexico vs. South Africa World Cup opener.
Nevermind that Tshabalala's goal did not win the game for Bafana Bafana 鈥� or 鈥淭he Boys, The Boys,鈥� as South Africa鈥檚 team is known. (The game ended in a tie after sloppy defense from South Africa allowed an easy goal by Mexico鈥檚 Marquez.)
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The goal was followed by a Macarena-like dance near the corner flag in front of the home crowd at Johannesburg鈥檚 Soccer City stadium and inspired Archbishop Desmond Tutu to do a little jig in the stands.
The tie only gives South Africa one point instead of the three points for a win, but it鈥檚 worth much more than that for them. It gives a much-needed boost of confidence as they continue on to play France and Uruguay; teams, like Mexico, that have far more international experience.
Mexico goes Zoro-chic
Mexico鈥檚 鈥淓l Tri鈥� dominated the first half of the game from the opening whistle, showing themselves to be the more professional, disciplined, patient team.
Wearing Zoro-chic, all-black uniforms 鈥� rather than the bright green, red, and white that World Cup fans are used to seeing 鈥� Mexico nearly drew blood early, slicing through a sloppy Bafana defense and almost scoring in the second minute.
Top Mexican striker Giovanni dos Santos got some good early looks, whetting his desire to find the back of the net.
Then, fellow striker Guillermo Franco had a great run into the box in the 30th minute, deftly receiving a perfect pass and almost tapping it into the goal. He was only prevented putting Mexico up 1-0 by a world class save by South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.
Seven minutes later 鈥� in a moment that will live in infamy for some Mexican fans 鈥� they had a goal overturned on a controversial call.
It was a measure of Mexico鈥檚 confidence at that point in the game that they didn鈥檛 cause more of a fuss over the call.
South Africa鈥檚 slow start and missed chances
South Africa, meanwhile, never got it going. Perhaps it was jitters from the pressure of a nation on its shoulders, perhaps it was just their relative inexperience at the international level.
With minutes to remaining in the first half, South Africa saw its chance as a beautiful cross spun just inches from Katlego Mphela鈥檚 head. But the striker could not give the extra effort needed to connect. Had he dove for the ball, he may have scored.
鈥淜iller鈥� Mphela had another chance at the very end of the game, but his shot hit the post. Had he made that, he would have been the hero and South Africa鈥檚 chances to advance past the first round would have improved dramatically.
Plus, his name would have been easier for to pronounce. But it wasn鈥檛 meant to be.
So, Tshabalala it is.
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