Mexico vs South Africa 2-0 — A Win Across Three Red Cards

Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in a group-stage match marked by three red cards — the expected-goals numbers backed up the hosts' overwhelming advantage, 1.46 to just 0.07 for the visitors.

Jorge Quinones opened the scoring in the 9th minute, and Raul Jimenez doubled the lead in the 67th — an early goal set the tone for a match South Africa never seriously threatened to get back into.

Three red cards in one match — a rare discipline reading

Siphephelo Sithole was sent off directly in the 49th minute, Themba Zwane followed in the 84th, both for South Africa.

While Mexico's Cesar Montes was dismissed in second-half stoppage time at 90+2 — three red cards in one match makes this one of the more disciplinarily dramatic contests of the group stage.

South Africa played the closing stretch essentially down to nine

After two dismissals, the South African side had to play out the closing stretch of the match a man short.

A factor that only compounded an already overwhelming Mexican advantage on the pitch.

Just 0.07 xG for the visitors — among the tournament's lowest

South Africa fired just 3 shots for the entire match with an expected-goals reading of 0.07.

A number reflecting the near-total absence of a real threat to Mexico's goal for almost the whole contest.

16 shots for the hosts against 3 for the visitors

Mexico fired more than five times as many shots as South Africa, with 9 of 16 attempts coming from inside the opposing box.

Numbers that confirm not just the quantity but the quality of the hosts' control.

A goals-prevented reading of -0.72 for both sides

A negative goals-prevented figure for both teams means the actual result was slightly worse than the model expected.

Given the volume the hosts created, the numbers simply confirm efficient finishing from the Mexican side on the night.

Javier Aguirre picked up a comfortable win ahead of the knockouts

Mexico's coach deployed a 4-1-4-1, fully controlling the game against a numerically depleted opponent.

A 2-0 win backed by numbers like these was an important statement of confidence for the World Cup hosts ahead of the tournament's decisive stretch.

The sides' first meeting since 2010

The only previous meeting between the two came all the way back in 2010 and ended in a draw.

A rare head-to-head record, limited to a single match over the past decade and a half between the two national teams.

The disciplinary story overshadowed the football itself

With this many dismissals, the match as a footballing spectacle took a back seat — the fouls and cards became the main talking point after the final whistle.

Right alongside a confident win for the World Cup hosts at the start of the group stage.