Home>News Center>Sports | ||
South Africa defeat Mexico 2-1 in 1st round
Defending champions Mexico lost a CONCACAF Gold Cup game for the first time since 2002, dropping a 2-1 decision to South Africa in a first-round game on Friday night. Philip Evans and Elrio Van Heerden scored for South Africa, which dealt Mexico just its fourth loss in the competition since the tournament began in 1997. South Africa won with a roster devoid of its top players. Only six participated in World Cup qualifying, and two starters made their first international appearances. Evans scored his first international goal in the 28th minute. Lebohang Mokoena headed Van Heerden's corner kick to an unmarked Evans, who headed the ball off the inside of the right post from 3 yards. Van Heerden, who plays for Denmark's FC Copenhagen, added his first international goal in the 41st minute. Siyabango Nomvete sent a crossing pass from the right side of the penalty area on a counterattack. Van Heerden slid, deflecting the ball between goalkeeper Jose de Jesus Corona and the left post from 5 yards. Francisco Rodriguez scored in the 83rd minute on a 7-yard header off Luis Ernesto Perez's right-wing cross. Mexico had two shots hit posts. Rafael Marquez Lugo's 14-yard volley ricocheted off the base of the right post in the 25th minute, and Omar Bravo's diving header hit the left post in the 76th minute.
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||