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South Africa Open & Close well
On gaining approval to host the 2010 World Cup, South Africa had two main challenges; put on a successful
tournament and hope that its team could get into the second round, or at the least, be highly competitive.
Soccer City was packed by the time the game between South Africa and Mexico got started. With the an
emotionally charged home crowd, Bafana Bafana took a 1-0 lead on Siphiwe Tshabalala left footed bullet in
the 55th minute, to spark a Vuvuzela celebration, to which even Nelson Mandela could have been dancing
at his home.
But after the joy ... of taking the lead, Raphael
Marquez scored Mexico’s equalizer to turn the
Vuvuzela’s volume way down at Soccer City to set
up an interesting final minutes to the 1-1 draw.
As expected, South African and Mexican fans
created an unbelievable atmosphere, as the ear-
splitting vuvuzela horns drowned out the chants of
the Mexican fans during the match.
It wasn't a bad start for either team since Uruguay
and France, played to a scoreless tie in Cape town
later that evening to create a 4-way log jam atop
the Group A standings
But a 3-0 lost to Uruguay in its second game was
the detrimental blow to Bafana after its 2-1 win over
France in its last match fell short to second place
Mexico on goal difference and South Africa was
eliminated.
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ssrmagazine.comBest gold celebration of 2010 FIFA World Cup
Siphiwe Tshabalala rallying the
troops for his goal celebration
SSR Magazine