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MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in a drama-filled opening match of the World Cup at the Mexico City Stadium on Thursday, kicking off the biggest-ever edition of the global footballing showpiece.

Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament after nine minutes and 35-year-old striker Raul Jimenez headed in Mexico’s second goal at the venue, which became the first stadium in the world to host games at three World Cups.

Three players were sent off — two from South Africa and one from Mexico — in front of a capacity crowd of 80,000 spectators.

Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio (left) shows a red card to South Africa’s midfielder Themba Zwane during their FIFA World Cup Group A football match against hosts Mexico at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on Thursday. (Photo: AFP)

South Africa had Sphephelo Sithole dismissed for denying a goalscoring opportunity before Themba Zwane was shown a red card for a slap. Mexico’s Cesar Montes was also sent off, for a late foul.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre revealed his players had overcome a serious case of first-day nerves.

“When you’re starting out the World Cup, of course your legs will shake,” Aguirre said. “Never in 25 years had anyone had any cramps but three of them had cramps today.

Mexico forward Raul Jimenez celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal in their 2-0 win.(Photo: AFP)

“We were in awe when we saw the stadium and they got a little bit of stage fright. But we never suffered.”

Mexico’s victory launched a 48-team tournament also hosted by the United States and Canada that will last nearly six weeks, culminating in the final in New Jersey on July 19.

South Africa forward Lyle Foster (left) and Mexico’s defender Johan Vasquez fight for the ball.(Photo: AFP)

Before kick-off, Colombian superstar Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy performed
Dai Dai, the official song of the tournament and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli rounded off the opening ceremony.

There was a festive atmosphere inside the stadium, but outside dozens of protesters clashed with police.

Groups of teachers, relatives of Mexicans who have gone missing, and student activists gathered outside the stadium amid a heavy police presence.

Mexico forward Julian Quinones (left) fires in the opening goal while South Africa midfielder Sphephelo Sithole (centre) and teammate Nkosinathi Sibisi try to close him down.(Photo: AFP)

Some protesters breached barriers and traded blows with officers guarding the stadium’s perimeter moments after Mexico scored their opening goal.

Tens of thousands of fans crammed into a fan zone in central Mexico City to watch the game, which was also enthusiastically followed by a large crowd of fans from Los Angeles’ Mexican community on giant screens at the Coliseum.

The start of the action on the pitch will come as a welcome relief to football’s world governing body FIFA, which has faced stinging criticism over the costs of tickets.