Mexico And South Korea Grab Wins In Their World Cup Openers

Mexico’s misery in World Cup opening games was finally ended as they secured a 2-0 win over South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in a match featuring three red cards.

The co-hosts had been involved in seven matches which either alone, or jointly, opened previous tournaments, but had won none of them.

They put that right at the eighth attempt however as goals from Julian Quinones and Fulham’s Raul Jimenez in either half gave them a victorious start against a South Africa side who finished with nine men.

Cesar Montes’ dismissal in stoppage time took some of the shine off an otherwise upbeat afternoon.

They were a goal up inside 10 minutes when Sphephelo Sithole was caught in possession on the edge of his box by Erik Lira and the ball fell to Quinones, who drove a low shot through the legs of Williams to give the co-hosts a dream start in the ninth minute.

Quinones came close to adding his second with seven minutes of the half remaining, hitting the base of a post from a Brian Gutierrez lay-off that had Williams beaten.

Sithole’s miserable afternoon was complete when he was red-carded for bringing down Gutierrez just outside the box early in the second period, but it took until midway through the half for Mexico to kill off the contest.

Roberto Alvarado stood the ball up to the far post from the right and Jimenez headed in from close range.

South Africa substitute Themba Zwane was sent off after a VAR review for appearing to strike Alvarado in the face late on as the pair tangled, on a day which firmly belonged to the host nation. Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio produced one more red, sending off Montes in stoppage time for a challenge on Khuliso Mudau.

Meanwhile, substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu gave South Korea a winning start to the World Cup as they came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1.

Former Celtic forward Oh struck 11 minutes from time after Hwang In-beom’s moment of magic had cancelled out Czech captain Ladislav Krejci’s header in Guadalajara.

South Korea made the brighter start, Son Heung-min firing over with Lee Han-beom heading over the bar before Paris St Germain’s Lee Kang-in forced a save from Matej Kovar with an effort from outside the box.

The Czechs, playing in their first World Cup since 2006, struggled to carve out any chances and the Koreans ended the first half with a flurry of opportunities.

Son again fired over and curled a shot wide of Kovar’s post before the former Tottenham striker was unable to meet a return cross into the box in added time.

Hwang and Lee Jae-sung were denied by Kovar to start the second half, the goalkeeper also denying Son before the Czechs went ahead with their first real chance – Krejci, who spent last season on loan at Wolves, meeting Vladimir Coufal’s long throw unmarked.

The lead lasted just eight minutes, Hwang finally converting a Korean chance as his check back sent Kovar and Robin Hranac past the ball and he was able to find the empty net.

West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek had a headed effort ruled out for a clear offside and within three minutes, Oh turned in Hwang’s low cross via Kovar’s hand, although Korea needed a pair of fine saves by Kim Seung-gyu to wrap up all three points.

Published: 12/06/2026 by Radio NewsHub