What led to three red cards in the opening World Cup match?

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Three Players Sent Off in Fiery World Cup Opener

Three players were dismissed during the opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa, which Mexico won 2-0. Sphephelo Sithole of South Africa was shown a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity. His teammate, Themba Zwane, was subsequently sent off for a slap. Mexico's Cesar Montes also received a red card for a late foul.
South Africa's Double Dismissal

South Africa faced a significant disadvantage with two players being sent off. Sphephelo Sithole's dismissal occurred for an infraction that prevented a clear chance for the opposing team to score. This was followed shortly by Themba Zwane being ejected from the match after an altercation that involved a slap.
Mexico's Red Card Incident

Mexico also had a player sent off during the contentious match. Cesar Montes was shown a red card by the referee for committing a late foul. This incident contributed to the overall disciplinary record of the game.
A Discipline-Challenged Opening Fixture

The match, held at the Estadio Azteca in front of a capacity crowd of 80,000 spectators, saw a total of three red cards issued. This high number of dismissals underscored the intensity and potentially aggressive nature of the opening fixture of the expanded 48-team tournament.

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What led to three red cards in the opening World Cup match?

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