It was as if a gun went off.
Arms flailed, people screamed, and crowds poured out onto the streets – all in celebration of South Africa's opening goal of the World Cup. It was a celebration that combined sheer glee with the ferocity of a country that felt it was being underrated.
The goal, by Sisiphe Tshabalala, gave Bafana Bafana a 1-0 lead against a much more experienced Mexico side. The only thing that kept the celebrations from reaching a fever pitch was a Rafael Marquez goal in the closing minutes to force a 1-1 draw. But the result was still a victory for the host nation, which could have easily been down 1-0 before Tshabalala's bullet.
Earlier in the half, a Mexican corner was thumped into the back of the net by Carlos Vela, only to have the play whistled offside. The linesman and referee both failed to notice a South African defenseman lurking on the goal line, keeping the attacker in legal position.
A South African man at a bar in Cape Town stood up, praised the refs on television, and peeled off imaginary money in their direction.
“That was a call straight from FIFA,” he said, grinning wide.
Many feel that international soccer's governing body would prefer the host nation avoid the ignominy of being the first to fail to advance past group play.
No matter to the tens of thousands around Cape Town who had crowded into bars to watch the game. The party was on, and they were out in the streets.
