JOHANNESBURG // The relief seemed palpable among the hosts of the 2010 World Cup after their first outing in Group A. Carlos Alberto Parreira, South Africa's coach, called the 1-1 draw with Mexico "a fair result". He was pleased to declare his team "still in the competition". Indeed, for a man whose side had for 22 second-half minutes been ahead in the game, and grasping three precious points, Parreira sounded remarkably chirpy. That response was partly generated by the way South Africa had improved during the game, better in the second period than the first and certainly able to boast the finest goal, Siphiwe Tshabalala's left-foot rocket after 55 minutes. South Africa's defenders, poorly organised in marking would then be culpable for the equaliser, when Rafa Marquez had plenty of time to slot home following a cross. But Parreira opted not to aportion blame. "I want to praise my players," he said. Parreira's tranquil state reflected what might have been a flat anti-climax. At the outset, the South Africans had looked anxious to the point of paralysis. A full three minutes had passed after kick-off before the ball so much as entered the Mexican half of the field, and then only thanks to a long free-kick from Itumeleng Khune, the goalkeeper. The nerves were understandable, what with the enormity of the occasion and the obligation to stand to attention before 85,000 spectators and listen to speeches from Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, and Jacob Zuma, the state president, that reminded them how a whole continent had reached a crux in its history. Even Steven Pienaar, Bafana Bafana's best footballer, with some uncharacteristically poorly passes, appeared edgy at first. Mexico, by contrast, set about the opening minutes with vigour. Giovani Dos Santos was lively on both flanks and had Guille Franco been more accurate when he won a couple of headers, he would have become the World Cup's opening scorer. Bongani Khumalo was fortunate that blocking a Dos Santos effort, the deflection skewed wide of Khune's post. But South Africa composed themselves. "After 15 minutes we adjusted," said their coach. Teko Modise began to grow in self-belief as the excellent Reneilwe Letsholonyane imposed himself in midfield. Just before the interval, the South Africans won a series of corners, and Kagisho Dikgacoi thumped a header across goal and wide. They took that confidence into the second-half and Dikgacoi, who spent most of last season as a reserve at Fulham, the English Premier League club, would be instrumental in giving Bafana the lead, his through-ball inviting Tshabalala to run in the inside left channel, a space often left a little open by Paul Aguilar, Mexico's attacking wing-back. Tshabalala, a crowd favourite, struck his drive beautifully, into the top corner. The vuvuzealots had something to hoot about.
On two occasions, South Africa might have clinched three points, first when Modise appeared to be both tripped and strong-armed off the ball by Francisco Rodriguez as he approached Perez in the Mexican penalty area: Irmatov, the referee, saw no infringement. Later, again negotiating a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, the tireless Katlego Mphela rolled a shot against the post. Javier Aguirre, Mexico's coach, reckoned by then Mexico had thoroughly deserved a goal themselves. "We paid for not converting our chances," he remarked. Khune produced a super save to keep out Dos Santos's volley, but he was let down by his back four when Marquez, positioned at the far post for a header, encountered no challenge when the ball dropped to his feet. He had time to place his shot, even to scuff it rather as he beat Khune. "We can still improve," said Aguirre, also relieved that his team had a point, at least, from day one. sports@thenational.ae
