Mexico loses to another top team
(Soccer365.com) - For the second time in a week, Mexico lost to one of Europe’s best teams, falling 2-1 at Holland after leading in the first half.
Mexico played a good half of soccer, but lost 2-1 to Holland Thursday night in Eindhoven, against one of Europe’s elite sides.
Starting all four strikers seemed to help El Tri, ‘Kikin’ Fonseca, Guille Franco, Jared Borgetti and Omar Bravo all played together, giving the team speed on the front.
But the second half substitutions could not keep up, as the Dutch scored twice in five minutes to sink the Mexicans to their second European loss.
In that first half, Mexico was stout, taking all the punches the Holland side had to give.
In the sixth minute, ‘Gringo’ Castro deflected a center with his head, and a minute later Gonzalo Pineda kicked away a ball that got dangerously close to the goal.
The four striker approach paid off as Mexico took the lead in the 19th minute when striker Borgetti, the Desert Fox, headed home a Pavel Pardo corner.
The Netherlands kept coming, but the Tricolor defense pushed them back every time, and the half ended with the home team trailing.
In the second half, Zinha, Rafael Garcia, Gerardo Torrado and Ramon Morales replaced Pavel Pardo, Guille Franco, Omar Bravo and Francisco Fonseca.
The Oranje came out firing, and just three minutes into the period, Kuyt shot from the right, but the ball ended in Oswaldo Sanchez’s capable hands.
A minute later, Sanchez was challenged again, this time by De Cler, who had the ball stripped, but in the next play Kuyt found the fresh Vennegoor, whose shot went over the crossbar.
Then in the 52nd, Johnny Heitinga was in the right place when the corner came in and he fired a rebound for the equalizer.
Three minutes later, Dirk Kuyt continued to damage the Aztecs when he kicked to Ryan Babel, whose cross beat Sanchez to the back of the net.
In the 63rd, Gonzalo Pineda and Jose Antonio Castro were replaced with Jesus ‘Cabrito’ Arellano and the ageless Claudio Suarez.
Eight minutes later, a chance to tie fell apart as Rafa Marquez planted himself to head a corner, but the Dutch defense deflected the kick.
Moments later, Arellano hit ‘Chquis’ Garcia, whose left-footed shot was swatted away by Stekelemburg.
Ramón Morales desbordó por la izquierda, pasó a Salcido quien levantó un globo que bajó el portero a los 40 minutos.
Ramon Morales passed to Carlos Salcido five minutes from time, but his shot was also defended by the ‘keeper.
Mexico’s best chance after that came in the 88th minute when Ramon Morales kicked to a Wide-open Jesús Arellano, but his kick was challenged by the goalkeeper.
In an interview with ESPN Radio following the match, Ricardo La Volpe admitted the second half replacements affected the team. “The truth is we have to keep our focus for the entire 90 minutes, but after I made the four changes we lost aggressiveness and that’s what I don’t like.”
About the surprising lineup which started the game, featuring four forwards, La Volpe said he had already planned it, all he needed was to see them in action.
“Perhaps the formation was surprising, but I’m not going to do something we haven’t tried. I needed to see how Jared, Guille, Bravo and Kikin worked together and it’s good to know I can have four forwards with variations within the game.”
He concluded by saying: “My team is prepared, confident and ready for the 11th when the real competition starts.”
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Comments
I don't think this is a suprise at all! We all arlready know the outcome of a game like this!
Posted by: matt | June 2, 2006 04:36 PM
this is why mexico wont come close to winning the world cup. they're simply not good enough!
Posted by: brandon | June 2, 2006 06:25 PM
How would anyone decide the outcome..you never know Mexico has the talent and we all know it but the problem is that they donot apply the plan and skills on the field.
The world cup 2002 Mexico came close to world cup and they could to the same this time.
Go BRAZIL!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: The Warrior | June 2, 2006 09:03 PM
How would anyone decide the outcome..you never know Mexico has the talent and we all know it but the problem is that they donot apply the plan and skills on the field.
The world cup 2002 Mexico came close to world cup and they could to the same this time.
Go BRAZIL!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: The Warrior | June 2, 2006 09:04 PM
Contending with Holland and even scoring first on them is impressive. Holland lived up to their reputation playing hard enough to come back, but don't count Mexico out early. They are going to impress....
Posted by: futbol | June 3, 2006 02:06 AM
Mexico will win the entire cup. I was wrong earlier.
Posted by: brandon | June 3, 2006 07:54 AM
thats cute yo mama probably used my name because mexico wont win the world cup. they used their starteres against holland with many stars on the bench. If mexico cant beat a half strenth holland team how can they beat teams like brazil, portugal, england, argentina, france, and a full stregth holland team?
Posted by: brandon | June 3, 2006 10:04 AM
IF YOU PEOPLE USE THIS ALTERNATIVE TO TALK SMACK TO EACH OTHER, THEN NONE OF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SOCCER, IF YOU KNEW JUST A LITTLE YOU WOULD KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT THESE GAMES ARE TO TRY PLAYERS OUT, AND TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BETTER THE TEAM, JUST BECAUSE MEXICO LOST DONESN'T MEAN THEY DO NOT HAVE A CHANCE, AND JUST BECAUSE HOLLAND WON BY 1 GOAL DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE BETTER CHANCES AT WINNING THE CUP.
EVERY TEAM HAS A CHANCE, SOME ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS BUT THEY ARE ALL GOOD, THAT IS WHY THEY QUALIFIED TO THE WORLD CUP.
Posted by: PILY | June 3, 2006 06:59 PM
Actually pily, like i said holland is better than mexico using a second team line-up, while mexico used their probable starters. The reason people are talking smack on these sites, is because its something called a rivalry. The United States and Mexico HATE eachother, so when ever one gets a chance to talk "smack" they are going too. And just because we run our mouths on this site, how does that mean we don't know anything about soccer/futbol whatever you want to call it.
Posted by: brandon | June 3, 2006 11:14 PM
they will not impress in 06
Posted by: Anonymous | June 3, 2006 11:16 PM
thats why mexico beat brazil in confederation cup in 05 mexico will go deep in the world cup.they only lost to germany by 1 and they had to go to overtime.jared borgetti is not their best striker it's omar bravo.omar bravo is so much faster and better than jared borgetti.U GUYS DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SOCCER.
GO MEXICO.
Posted by: Maestro10 | June 4, 2006 12:09 AM
Mexico play a very good game and given the type of players they began with against Holland, they will go far in this world cup of 2006. I would not rule them out so early. They are one of the best teams in America, so watch them they will surprise you.
ALL THE WAY MEXICO.
Posted by: Siyanda W. Mda (RSA) | June 4, 2006 04:36 PM
Mexico is the one of the greatest nation and have the ability to do damage they are always know to do well when they need to and more importantly want to. if teams like holland come out and think they will win they could be shocked and go 1-0 down very quickly and in a world cup match this is a very hard task to acomplish i just think that mexico is holding back and not pushing to win i think they will kick in the drive in the world cup and if they want it easy they can get to the semis who knows maybe further. this probably isnt mexico year but taking small steps every world cup will help them improve.
Posted by: VIVA MEXICO | June 4, 2006 06:04 PM
I do not know what you are talking about when you say "soccer." It is actually futbol/football and if you really liked Mexico so much you would say futbol because that is what they say.
Posted by: Balooga | June 5, 2006 04:27 PM
Wow, its amazing how worked up people get when its obvious that Mexico, though a gifted team, will not go very far. It is true that they will not be ruled out, but it is highly unlikely that they will go far. As you've said, Holland was only playing second-rate, and since they are one of the high contenders for the cup, it is obvious a matchup like that would end up in a Mexico defeat. And a lose is a lose, no matter how many points.
Posted by: Futbolforever | June 5, 2006 07:06 PM
Many "realists" like Brandon and Futbolforever said the same thing about Mexico in the Confederations Cup last year and maaann, did we shut their big mouths or what? hahaha. Make no mistake my friends, Mexico will again astonish the world!!!
Posted by: El George | June 6, 2006 06:13 PM