The world cup got off to a fine start in my not too humble opinion. The first match was between South Africa and Mexico-it is the tradition that the hosts play the first match. What a match it was!The hosts seemed immensely determined to show that they really belonged in the tournament and were not there just because they were the hosts.They did so by scoring the first goal of the encounter in the second half. With a fantastic strike that put the ball in the top right corner of the net -way way out of the keeper's reach- in the 55th minute ,Siphiwe Tshabalala wrote his name in the history books as the first man to score in the first world cup in Africa. Mexico though clinched an equalizer and the match ended 1-1.
The second match began at 7:30p.m Nigerian time, and it was between France and Uruguay. The match was no less hotly contested than the first and the vuvuzelas-the plastic trumpets blown during the match you dmmy!-were at their incessant noisiest although the hosts weren't playing. It ended goalless. Special mention has to be made of some players. First, Frank Ribery was badly disappointing, in fact he was appalling. Sydney Govou and Nicholas Anelka were not bad. Govou really hustled. Touloulan did not surprise me with his immaturity. It was to be expected, always looking for a fih=ght is Touloulan. Diego Forlan was good, causing problems for the defence as usual. Towards the end of the game Nicholas Anelka came off for Thierry Henry to raucous applause.
All in all, the day was good for the teams and the fans. Better to star with a draw than a defeat the teams must reason. Below are pics of the action. Enjoy!
Siboniso Gaxa of South Africa attempts to foil the play of Carlos Salcido.
Carlos Vela's goal late in the first half is cancelled to the utmost relief of the hosts. How lucky!
Wonder Goal!!!!!!!!!! We will be seeing this for a very long time to come I swear. I can bet my favourite boxers' on that. The goal was a rifle shot. A new star is born! Up Tshabalala!
Show ur style! When it comes to celebrating a goal, we all know that no one does it like us africans. Bafana Bafana have set the tone, Super Eagles must follow suit 2morrow.
Of course it had to be the Barcelona man that would step up to the plate and pull one back for Mehico! That was just to clear the doubts of anyone as to which club is the best in Europe at the moment. Any more doubts. Btw, I am no Barca fan by the wildest stretch of the imagination.
William Gallas of France versus Diego Forlan of Uruguay. Just look at Gallas' face. Hideous!
And who has the dubious and unenviable distinction of being the first player to get sent off in the first World Cup in Africa? Uruguay's Nicholas Lodeiro got sent off just 18 bloody minutes after he got on as a substitute in the second half. He deserved it though. What a nasty tackle it was.
But at the end of the day, it was HUGS and KISSES, in the true spirit of sportmanship, in the true spirit of football, in the true spirit of the world cup. Indeed, in the true spirit of Africa!
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