Thriller ends in a draw

Johannesburg - A stunning goal from Siphiwe Tshabalala almost gave hosts South Africa the perfect start to the World Cup before they were held to a 1-1 draw in front of almost 85,000 fans at Soccer City on Friday.

Siphiwe Tshabalala had given the South Africans the lead in the 55th minute but the Mexicans levelled through Rafael Marquez in the 79th.

However, while the South Africans extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches they will feel that it is three points gone begging after striker Katlego Mphela hit the post in the 90th minute.

South Africa went agonisingly close to taking the three points in the final minute of normal time when Mphela outpaced two defenders but his left footed shot from an angle came back off the near post.

Kaizer Chiefs winger Tshabalala had given the hosts a dream lead when he struck with a piledriver of a left-footed shot in the 55th minute giving goalkeeper Oscar Perez no chance.

Teko Modise could have made the game safe for the hosts in the 70th minute when the striker got the better of his marker but one on one with Perez he shot weakly allowing the Mexican 'keeper to gather easily.

Modise's miss proved costly as the Mexicans levelled through Marquez in the 79th minute as a ball lofted over the top of the hosts defence found the Barcleona star and he coolly slotted it past goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.

The first-half had seen the Mexicans dominate and Carlos Vela had the ball in the net in the 38th minute but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

Teams

South Africa: Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Aaron Mokoena (capt), Siphiwe Tshabalala, Katlego Mphela, Steven Pienaar, Teko Modise, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Lucas Thwala, Bongani Khumalo.

Mexico: Oscar Perez, Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido, Rafael Marquez, Ricardo Osorio, Gerardo Torrado (capt), Guillermo Franco, Carlos Vela, Paul Aguilar, Efrain Juarez, Giovani dos Santos.