Yaya Sithole red card leaves South Africa down to 10 men
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 11, 2026, 8:23 PM
Last updated Jun 11, 2026
In the FIFA World Cup opener on June 11, South Africa fell to 10 men after Yaya Sithole received a red card early in the second half. Already trailing 1-0, South Africa's situation worsened when Sithole was sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to Mexico. After the foul, a free kick was awarded to Mexico, which failed to convert. With a significant disadvantage in players and time remaining, South Africa faced a challenging path to recover in the match.
- •Sithole sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
- •South Africa trails 1-0 against Mexico.
- •Red card issued shortly into the second half.
- •10-man South Africa attempts to manage goal differential.
- •Free kick awarded to Mexico after the foul.
- 9:03 PMYahoo Sports — Why Mexico got a red card to go down to 10 men on Cesar Montes tackle
- 8:53 PMYahoo Sports — Why South Africa got a 2nd red card to go down to 9 men after Themba Zwane VAR review
- 8:23 PMYahoo Sports — Why South Africa got a red card to go down to 10 men after Yaya Sithole tackle
""That's a harsh red card," Fox's Landon Donovan said.
"Things kept going more and more right for Mexico.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJun 11, 2026, 9:03 PMWhy Mexico got a red card to go down to 10 men on Cesar Montes tackle
"That's a harsh red card," Fox's Landon Donovan said.
- Yahoo SportsJun 11, 2026, 8:53 PMWhy South Africa got a 2nd red card to go down to 9 men after Themba Zwane VAR review
Things kept going more and more right for Mexico.
- Yahoo SportsJun 11, 2026, 8:23 PMWhy South Africa got a red card to go down to 10 men after Yaya Sithole tackle
This is a tough spot to be in.
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