Screamer: Siphiwe Tshabalala celebrates scoring the first goal of the tournament The noise was deafening and unforgettable, the colours were riotous, the game was a good one and the hosts scored the tournament's first goal, a belter. Africa's World Cup is up and running and the feeling sweeping across an entire continent last night must have been invigorating.
It was certainly that way inside the Soccer City stadium located at one end of the Soweto Highway. There were 84,000 inside, but when Siphiwe Tshabalala ran down the left in the 55th minute and struck a soaring, diagonal shot into the top far corner, it sounded as there were about 10 times that number here.
Even when Rafael Marquez gave Mexico a deserved equaliser 11 minutes from time, the atmosphere inside this stadium modelled on a traditional cooking pot continued to bubble.
There was almost a gloriously dramatic finale when South Africa's No. 9, Katlego Mphela, ran on to a 60-yard punt from his goalkeeper - the ball sailing through the cool thin air as it had done throughout the match - and beat Mexico's Oscar Perez with a poked shot.
But the ball came back off Perez's woodwork
No stopping that: Mexico goalkeeper Oscar Perez is beaten by Tshabalala South Africa would have claimed an historic victory, but it would have been harsh on Mexico. Had they a more potent centre-forward than West Ham's released Guillermo Franco, the Mexicans might have been three up by half-time.
So no-one involved with or supporting Bafana Bafana could complain. Nor could any of the many sceptics. This was a real occasion in which even the pre-tournament show contained uplifting moments.
Equaliser: Rafael Marquez scores a late leveller for Mexico from close rangeThere was one major absentee - Nelson Mandela - who would have leant the afternoon a coating of his magic. But given the distressing family bereavement suffered on Thursday night, when his 13-year-old great-granddaughter was killed in a car crash, it would have been odd had Mandela battled through the Johannesburg gridlocked traffic to be present.
As it was, Sepp Blatter, not always the man to praise, got it right when he said before kick-off that 'the spirit of Mandela is in Soccer City'.
It did not walk alone. With Bob Marley blaring out 'Could You Be Loved?', the place was swaying. So, too, the Bafana boys, who danced their way off the team bus and sang their way down the tunnel. It was some day to be one of their number.
Ruled out: Carlos Vela appeals to the linesman after his strike was chalked offSouth Africa then engaged in a willowy rhythmic warm-up and, as they did, those who declined the opportunity to buy ear-plugs outside the ground were deep in regret.
For Mexico, to maintain concentration must have been a task. But they did and when the game began, they were monopolising the ball. South Africa looked nervous. Who could blame them?
It required a big block by Portsmouth's Aaron Mokoena as early as the second minute to prevent the sort of start that could have undermined the whole day.
Franco then missed with a near-post header as former Tottenham player Giovani Dos Santos wriggled his way around to dangerous effect. It was all Mexico. Arsenal's Carlos Vela had a goal disallowed, Franco hit Itumeleng Khune with one effort, then placed another free header over the crossbar.
Tussle: Giovani Dos Santos tackles goal-scorer Siphiwe TshabalalaIt was not until the 42nd minute that South Africa put together a string of passes that resulted in a chance. Steven Pienaar and Mphela spent their time up front chasing and harrying. But they then won a series of corners and it may have boosted Carlos Parreira and his players at the interval. They certainly had more thrust after it.
Confidence within Bafana has grown steadily under Parreira as a 12-game unbeaten run has been stitched together. He has built a team around players based in the domestic league. Eight of them were in Parreira's starting XI.
Tshabalala is one. The 25 year-old left winger plays for the Kaizer Chiefs and is regarded as one of their most skilful players. But Tshabalala had done little except track back until 10 minutes after the break. Then South Africa passed their way through the midfield and Kagisho Dikgacoi split the defence with a superb pass.
This was suddenly Tshabalala's moment. He could have panicked, teammate Teko Modise did later, but Tshabalala retained composure to score the sort of goal people dream of. Soccer City went berserk. Even the vuvuzelas were drowned out. No-one was moaning about the flight of the Jabulani ball.
Crunch: South Africa's Teko Modise and Siboniso Gaxa (left) challenge VelaModise then had two opportunities to double the lead and end Mexico's challenge. But both were missed.
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre changed things and introduced the sprightly Andres Guardado. After South Africa half-cleared one cross in the 79th minute, Guardado delivered a second. Bafana's defence had pushed up, bar Mokoena. He played no less than three Mexicans onside and Marquez was one. His finish was to the point.
The hosts were not deflated. Parreira has had them on fitness camps in Brazil and Germany and they kept on keeping on. Mphela was so close to glory.
Yet there was a form of it in the draw. There were no losers, there were winners all over the place. The tournament has lift-off.
source: dailymail
