SSR Vol5 FIFA- WC-SA

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.

Siphiwe Tshabalala rallying the troops for his goal celebration

Best gold celebration of 2010 FIFA World Cup

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