Well now. Mexico went and did exactly what they said they would do. Beat South Africa 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca, and every single person in that stadium seemed to know it was going to happen that way. Mama always said home is where the heart feels strongest, and Mexico's heart was beating real loud today.
I don't know much about algorithms and numbers, but that Stock Liga computer sure did call this one right. Said Mexico would win at 1.50 odds, and they did. Said there wouldn't be many goals, and there weren't. Said both teams wouldn't score, and South Africa couldn't find the net even with a map. Sometimes the simple truth is just sitting right there in front of you, clear as day.
South Africa tried real hard, I'll give them that. They ran and they fought and they didn't quit even when things weren't going their way. But trying and succeeding are two different things, like running fast and running in the right direction. Mexico knew where they were going from the very first minute. They scored one goal in the first half, then scored another one later, and that was that. Clean and simple, like a good meal.
I've watched a lot of football in my time. World Cups and local games and everything in between. And sometimes the team that's supposed to win just goes ahead and wins, no surprises, no drama, just honest work paying off. Mexico did their job today, and their people went home happy. That's something beautiful, even if it wasn't fancy.