Mexico and South Africa’s World Cup opener was overshadowed by three red cards included a slap from Themba Zwane as the hosts got off to a fast start at the Estadio Azteca
South Africa finished with nine men and Mexico ten on Thursday evening after three red cards with Themba Zwane was sent off for slapping an opponent.
The African side had headed into the opening World Cup clash with high hopes after beating their opponents during the opener of the 2010 edition. However, tempers flared at the Estadio Azteca and Zwane’s red card was the culmination of a torrid clash for Bafana Bafana.
Hugo Broos’ side were two goals down and already with just ten men on the pitch, after Yaya Sithole’s sending off, when Wilton Sampaio was called across to the VAR monitor to check an alleged slap from Zwane with ten minutes remaining.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Zwane had been trying to play a one-two on the edge of the box, when, left frustrated he couldn’t get to the ball, he took a swipe at Alvarado.
Alvarado immediately hit the deck, and when reviewing the footage, Sampaio was left in no mind to hand a second South African their marching orders.
“Crazy parallels between South Africa and United under Amorim. Anyone that can defend this type of nonsense cannot be saved,” one fan joked. While a second said: “Wow, South Africa down to nine men already? Total chaos…”
However, there was still time for another red card as César Montes was also sent off in the 90th minute.
Montes made a desperate late lunge to take out Mudau, who was in a goal scoring position on the edge of the box. Montes was the last man, and any checks were quickly cleared by VAR.
It is the first time there has been three red cards in a single game since the infamous Battle of Nuremberg during the 2006 edition.
During that bad-blooded affair, there were four red cards, which remains the tournament record.