Mexico vs. South Africa: World Cup’s Opening Match Scoreless At Half

Three near goals from Mexico highlight the opening match of the 2010 World Cup, with El Tri going into halftime scoreless with host South Africa.

Guillermo Franco, Giovani dos Santos and Carlos Vela have all come close to opening the scoring, with a Vela chested ball from a corner kick finding the net before it was called by for offside. Franco had a chance on a bouncing ball seven years out that was saved by Itumeleng Khune, while a Giovani does Santos left footed shot from the arc went two feet wide of Khune’s right post in the middle of the half.

Mexico dominated the match’s first six minutes before South Africa settled-in, but by the end of the half, Mexico has reasserted control of the game. South Africa has caused gasps on a couple of crosses, but the Bafana Bafana have not been able to see enough of the ball to create meaningful opportunities.