World Cup 2010: The best pics of South Africa v Mexico

Here at last, the 2010 World Cup finals! Excited? You should be. No doubt Clive Tyldesley will have something suitably grandiose to say about it before kick-off ... something about a global audience waiting with anticipation and a nation's chance to shine ... enough of that Clive, just look at the pretty pictures Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk FIFA's head honcho Sepp Blatter and South Africa's president Jacob Zuma are all smiles before kick off Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk And after a colourful opening ceremony, the two teams finally enter the pitch. It's about time, more like Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk A young mascot looks endearingly at the Mexican players as they line-up for the national anthems Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk The atmosphere off the pitch is buzzing and the action on it is pretty frisky too. Not the usual opening match humdrum then. Here, Mexico's Giovani Dos Santos is levered off the ball as two South African players block his run Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Guillermo Franco has a shot saved by Itumeleng Khune as Mexico look to silence the noise of the vuvuzelas Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Dos Santos, a menace throughout the first half, tumbles under a challenge from Kagisho Dikgacoi Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk South African fans urge their team on Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Mexico continue to threaten, but can't beat the keeper Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Guillermo Franco rises highest, but again 'El Tri' are denied Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk A breakthrough at last! Siphiwe Tshabalala scores a thunderous strike to give the hosts the lead in the 55th minute - you won't see a sweeter connection than that all tournament Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Time for a bizarre celebration ... an amalgamation of Bebeto's rocking baby and Roger Milla's classic corner flag boogie Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk 94,000 people are inside the stadium watching this match and if the scoreline stays like this most of them will be going home happy Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Kagisho Dikgacoi is tugged by Efraín Juárez Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Steven Pienaar climbs above Carlos Salcido Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Goal for Mexico! Twelve minutes from time and they're level. Rafael Marquez slots in from the back post and runs off in delight with Dos Santos catching a free ride Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Katlego Mphela looks a bit peeved at the prospect of a draw Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk The final whistle blows and it's ended 1-1. What an absolute cracker that was Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk