Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said his side had overcome nerves in their opening match after beating nine-man South Africa 2-0 in the World Cup Group A opener at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday, but warned there was still much to improve.
Julian Quinones fired the co-hosts ahead with a composed finish before Raul Jimenez sealed the victory with a second-half header in front of an expectant home crowd.
«This could have been a 4-0 game, but the people were happy. It is the start of the World Cup, we have left the nerves behind us and are going through with three points,» Aguirre told reporters. “Now we are thinking about the next thing.” Mexico were the better team for a long time and played most of the second half with a numerical advantage after South African midfielder Sphephelo Sithole was sent off five minutes after the restart for a foul on Brian Gutierrez.
The visitors were reduced to nine men in the 84th minute when Themba Zwane was dismissed for violent conduct, but Aguirre said Mexico had made the match more complicated than necessary.
«We didn’t play well in the first half. It could easily have ended 3-0,» he said. «We were superior in the first part, but the score did not reflect that. We made it complicated for ourselves.»
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«After the second goal we got too much confidence and then came the farewell. We have to improve, but it was a good match.»
Quinones opened the scoring after Erik Lira won possession following Sithole’s defensive error and Jimenez headed in Mexico’s second in the 67th minute after Roberto Alvarado’s sharp cross.
Mexico, who ended their seven-match wait for a victory in their opening World Cup match, now face South Korea in Guadalajara, while South Africa take on the Czech Republic.
Published on June 12, 2026
