SOUTH AFRICA brought the curtain up on the World Cup with a Siphiwe Tshabalala screamer — but the hosts had to make do with a point.

The Kaiser Chiefs star wellied home a sensational 55th-minute goal to fire up this historic tournament.

It looked like that would smash Bafana Bafana to a famous opening day victory.

But Rafael Marquez cancelled out his effort with just 13 minutes on the clock to level matters in Johannesburg.

South Africa had waited years for their big moment — but it almost went sour after just TWO minutes.

Home stopper Itumeleng Khune rushed to meet a cross and shunted the ball to Giovani dos Santos.

But the Bafana Bafana fans breathed a sigh of relief as the Tottenham man missed from eight yards.

Mexico were bossing these early exchanges, and Bhongani Khumano was then called on to nod Giovani’s cross clear.

On 13 minutes it was time for Lucas Thwala to stand up and be counted as he robbed Paul Aguilar with a top-drawer tackle.

South Africa then had their first sniff of a chance when some cute passing carved open the Mexicans.

A series of slick passes led to Tshabalala getting hacked down 25 yards out — but Steven Pienaar fired his free-kick over the bar.

Efrain Juarez became the first player to be booked when he obstructed a 27th-minute free-kick.

On the half hour, West Ham star Guillermo Franco had a chance to get his name in lights but slapped his shot against Khune.

Mexico finally had the ball in the net on 37 minutes — only to see it chalked off for an incredible offside.

With one man on the line, Khune stormed out of his goal and missed a Mexican centre.

That left Carlos Vela free to tap into the open net.

But with Khune further down the pitch than Vela, and with just one man on the line, the Arsenal ace was rightly flagged offside.

It was not all one-way traffic, however, and the hosts had one more chance before the break.

Keeper Oscar Perez rushed out and missed a corner — but Kagisho Digkacoi sent his header over the bar.

Both sides came charging out of the blocks after the break and Aaron Mokeona stood firm to halt Giovani’s mazy run.

But it was South Africa who broke the deadlock with a sensational strike from Tshabalala.

Teko Modise sent in a laser through-ball, and the midfielder steadied himself before firing a rocket past Perez.

It was a ferocious goal worthy of opening the World Cup’s account and Soccer City exploded in joy.

Mexico looked to hit back and Giovani tricked his way into South Africa territory before unleashing a thunderbolt.

But it was desperately clawed away by stopper Khune.

With 65 minutes gone Modise seemed to miss an unbelievable chance to double their lead.

Katlego Mphela had a crack and the ball looped over the back line — but midfielder Modise sidefooted his shot wide from five yards out.

It was a truly terrible miss but Modise was let off the hook when the linesman flagged him for offside.

At the other end, Franco found himself in space in the box only to stumble and give the ball away.

With 68 minutes gone, Vela made way for 38-year-old stalwart Cuaouhtemoc Blanco.

South Africa were buzzing now, and Perez had to charge out of his goal to stop Tshabalala having another chance.

Then Mexico levelled out of nowhere.

Andres Guardado crossed over a dozy home defence and Rafael Marquez — totally unmarked at the back post — controlled and tucked home.

Boss Carlos Alberto Parreira had one last throw of the dice when he sent on Bernard Parker for Pienaar with seven minutes on the clock.

And it almost paid off when Mphela stormed through the Mexico back-line in the last seconds — only to agonisingly hit the post.

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SUN

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