Mexico, Guatemala Sleepwalk To Nil-Nil Draw

Mexico played the last game before their participation in the Gold Cup in July against Guatemala, drawing 0-0 in San Diego. With a new line-up by Javier Aguirre, and the anticipated debut of Jesus Corona, neither team managed to take the advantage during the 90+ minutes of play.  

As soon as the game started, Guatemala gave Mexico trouble. Transito Montepeque quickly got up near the Mexico area, but was flagged offside.  

In the 10th minute, Mexico’s Jose Maria Cardenas took a shot from outside the area, but it went just wide of the Guatemalan goal.  

Finally, in the 31st minute, Corona made his long awaited contribution with the national team. Montepeque was able to get past Edgar Dueñas and came up one-on-one against Corona. Corona managed to rush out to the edge of the area and blocked the play to prevent Guatemala’s first goal.

At the end of the first half it was Mexico’s turn to get near goal. Medina went up the left side to cross to Bravo who barely missed the ball. It went to Arellano who tried to get it back, but the ball ended up going just over the cross bar.  

Coming back for the second half there was a period of time that Mexico came close to scoring. In the 52nd minute Alberto Medina came close, but slightly missed on the cross.  

Quickly, a minute later Medina once again had a chance. His shot was just stopped by Trigueño to avoid a change in the scoreline.  

Then in the 54th minute another chance came. Medina sent in a cross to Omar Bravo, but the goalkeeper was able to send it over the goal.  

In the 78th minute Miguel Sabah managed to come close. Sabah took the ball of an opposition player and took a shot, but the Guatemalan goalkeeper easily contained it.  

Controversy came near the end of the game in the 82nd minute when Guatemala’s Miguel Fernandez fell in the box after a tackle by Cardenas. The Guatemalan players asked for a penalty, but none was given and Fernandez was given his second yellow card. Guatemala ended the game with 10 men, but kept the score at 0-0.

Lineups

Mexico: Jesus Corona; Efrain Juarez, Edgar Dueñas, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Fausto Pinto (Israel Martinez, 88); Alberto Medina, Israel Castro, Luis Miguel Noriega (Carlos Esquivel, 65), Jose Maria Cardenas (Carlos Vela, 84); Omar Bravo (Miguel Sabah, 61), Omar Arellano (Pablo Barrera, 46).

Guatemala: Ricardo Trigueño; Carlos Gallardo, Yony Wilson-Flores, Luis Rodriguez, Gustavo Cabrera; Fredy Thompson, Luis Bradley, Mynor Davila (Edgar Chinchilla, 90), Miguel Fernandez, Jose Manuel Contreras (Cristian Noriega, 88); Transito Montepeque (Selvin Joel Motta, 64).

Andrea Martinez, Goal.com

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