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Played
November 11, 2011 9:10 PM EST
Estadio La Corregidora — Santiago de Querétaro
Referee: W. Lopez
November 11, 2011 9:10 PM EST
Estadio La Corregidora — Santiago de Querétaro
Referee: W. Lopez
Mexico 2-0 Serbia: Jose Manuel de la Torre notches first home victory
Carlos Salcido scored in the first two minutes and Chicharito in the final two minutes as El Tri held off Serbia to get its coach his first triumph in Mexico.
By Mike Slane
Getty Images
Jose Manuel de la Torre now knows how it feels to win on Mexican soil.
Carlos Salcido scored on one of Mexico's first touches of the game and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez added the dagger in the closing minutes as De La Torre's squad held off Serbia for a 2-0 victory in a friendly Friday night at La Corregidora.
The win marked De La Torre's first victory in Mexico since becoming the team's coach over a year ago. He had lost his first and only attempt last month to Brazil.
With Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic retiring internationally and Neven Subotic suffering a fractured eye socket, the Serbs were weak defensively and Mexico took advantage in the first couple minutes.
Salcido put El Tri on the board after sending a cross from the left to a cutting Chicharito, who went to head the ball from point-blank range but was unable to make contact. The ball instead went straight into the side of the net past goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Mexico continued to be in control early on. Every time it looked as though Serbia was stealing the momentum El Tri would regain possession and put the pressure back on the visiting defenders.
In the 36th minute, Mexico nearly posted its second goal but Stojkovic was able to bail his team out of another sticky situation. Pablo Barrera raced down the center of the box and had an open attempt to the left saved by the diving keeper.
Moments later, Stojkovic made another big save - this time with his left foot. It was Andrés Guardado who missed out on a golden opportunity that would have given his team a two-goal cushion entering halftime.
The second half was much like the first except neither team was able to find the net.
Serbia had its best chance of the half when Milos Ninkovic's right-footed attempt from outside the box was blocked by Mexican keeper Alfredo Talavera. But just like in the early going, Mexico countered and Chicharito had a shot go just wide seconds later.
In the 69th minute it appeared as though Hernandez was taken down in the box by Aleksandar Kolarov, but no matter how much the Manchester United striker was begging for a penalty the referee was not willing to make the call.
But Chicharito would eventually get his chance from the spot after the tiny striker was once again brought down in the box by Kolarov during an attempted header, drawing a second yellow for the defender. He calmly went left on the penalty attempt and all but closed the game in the 88th minute.
Carlos Salcido scored on one of Mexico's first touches of the game and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez added the dagger in the closing minutes as De La Torre's squad held off Serbia for a 2-0 victory in a friendly Friday night at La Corregidora.
The win marked De La Torre's first victory in Mexico since becoming the team's coach over a year ago. He had lost his first and only attempt last month to Brazil.
With Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic retiring internationally and Neven Subotic suffering a fractured eye socket, the Serbs were weak defensively and Mexico took advantage in the first couple minutes.
Salcido put El Tri on the board after sending a cross from the left to a cutting Chicharito, who went to head the ball from point-blank range but was unable to make contact. The ball instead went straight into the side of the net past goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Mexico continued to be in control early on. Every time it looked as though Serbia was stealing the momentum El Tri would regain possession and put the pressure back on the visiting defenders.
In the 36th minute, Mexico nearly posted its second goal but Stojkovic was able to bail his team out of another sticky situation. Pablo Barrera raced down the center of the box and had an open attempt to the left saved by the diving keeper.
Moments later, Stojkovic made another big save - this time with his left foot. It was Andrés Guardado who missed out on a golden opportunity that would have given his team a two-goal cushion entering halftime.
The second half was much like the first except neither team was able to find the net.
Serbia had its best chance of the half when Milos Ninkovic's right-footed attempt from outside the box was blocked by Mexican keeper Alfredo Talavera. But just like in the early going, Mexico countered and Chicharito had a shot go just wide seconds later.
In the 69th minute it appeared as though Hernandez was taken down in the box by Aleksandar Kolarov, but no matter how much the Manchester United striker was begging for a penalty the referee was not willing to make the call.
But Chicharito would eventually get his chance from the spot after the tiny striker was once again brought down in the box by Kolarov during an attempted header, drawing a second yellow for the defender. He calmly went left on the penalty attempt and all but closed the game in the 88th minute.
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Midfielder Ukraine |
4 | 2 |
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Michael Mifsud
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