CARSON (California), July 9: South Africa launched their campaign in the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-1 victory over defending champions Mexico on Friday.

Goals from Philip Evans in the 27th minute and Elrio Van Heerden in the 40th lifted South Africa, one of two special invitees to the 12-nation North and Central America and Caribbean regional tournament.

Francisco Rodriguez pulled one back in the 82nd for Mexico, who have won a total of four Gold Cup titles.

South Africa claimed their first victory over Mexico in three encounters. Mexico beat the South Africans 4-0 in a friendly in Los Angeles in October of 1993 and 4-2 in a USA Cup match in Dallas, Texas, in June of 2000.

“This victory, against a team as great as Mexico, encourages us that we can get a good result in the Cup,” said South Africa coach Stuart Baxter.

Prior to the tournament, Baxter was low-key about the chances for his side, which is missing several key players.

But their quick, skillful play saw them take charge in the first half despite Mexico’s control of the ball.

In the 27th, a corner kick by Van Heerden was steered to Evans, who headed the ball home.

Mexico were still reeling from Evans’s goal - which roundly booed by the fiercely pro-Mexico crowd of 30,000 at the Home Depot Center in this south Los Angeles suburb - when Van Heerden finished off a South African counter-attack by collecting pass from the right side and slotting the ball past Mexico keeper Jose de Jesus Corona.

Mexico were more consistent in the second half, but South Africa continued to stand up to the pressure.

Rodriguez finally broke through, and Mexico spent the final minutes fighting in vain to earn the draw.

South Africa next play Jamaica at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday. On Wednesday they face Guatemala as the Group C teams move to Houston, Texas, for their final two matches.

Mexico play Guatemala on Sunday, and Jamaica on Wednesday.—AFP