South Africa manager laments red cards but remains optimistic after loss to Mexico

Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez secured victory for Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, but Broos insisted the scoreline did not accurately reflect his team's defensive performance against the co-hosts in front of over 80,000 fans.

"You are playing in a World Cup, you are up against a very strong side, but we put in a good performance," Broos told reporters.

"I witnessed a desperate Mexico. They did not know what to do with the ball. The organisation defensively was spot on."

South Africa found it difficult to create chances and Broos admitted his team must enhance their attacking play if they are to maintain any hope of progressing to the knockout stages.

"In attack, I believe we need to improve," he said. "If we can replicate the same performance but be more effective going forward, then I am confident we will achieve a better outcome."

Three red cards

The defeat presented additional challenges for South Africa after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were dismissed, while Mexico captain Cesar Montes also received a red card, making it the first World Cup opening match to feature three sendings-off.

Broos accepted Sithole's dismissal for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity but questioned the decision that resulted in Zwane's red card.

"The first card, I think you have to accept. The second, I believe you can debate because it is the Mexican player who blocks my player," he said. "But that is the referee's judgement and we have to accept it."

"We have two players who cannot feature in the next game but we still have other players, and if we can demonstrate the same mentality and approach we showed today, I am certain we will get good results in the remaining two matches."

South Africa next face the Czech Republic in Atlanta, a fixture that is likely to decide whether they remain in contention for a spot in the knockout rounds.

"We need the next few days to get over the disappointment and also the tiredness," Broos said. "But then we have to work on our attacking game because it was not sufficient today."