Mexico Open Gold Cup With Unconvincing 2-0 Win

Mexico scored goals on either side of halftime and beat Nicaragua 2-0 in a match that left plenty of room for El Tricolor.

Jul 5, 2009 11:11:02 PM

More On :  Mexico, Nicaragua
Luis Miguel Noriega - Miguel Sabah - Mexico-Nicaragua (Mexsport)
A lackluster Mexican national team defeated newcomers Nicaragua 2-0 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Sunday and won their Group C opening match to start the Gold Cup on the right foot.

The Tricolor, which was expected to steamroll through a modest Nicaraguan side, seemed poised to open the scoring early on but instead lost upstart Carlos Vela to injury.
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The Arsenal striker had to be subbed out of the match in the 10th minute after an awkward fall left him in no condition to continue the match. Alberto “Venado” Medina came in for Vela and would prove to be a key player in Mexico’s victory. The Chivas striker, however, would have to wait over thirty minutes before contributing to the Tricolor.
 
It was not until the 45th minute that Medina filtered a through-ball to Israel “Jagger” Martinez who drew a foul from David Solorzano to win Mexico a penalty kick. Luis Miguel Noriega took charge of the spot kick and gave Mexico a much needed lead just as the Tricolor seemed to once again fall into a scoreless drought.
 
The second-half proved to be much of the same as a feisty Nicaraguan team fought tooth and nail for every ball and complicated Mexico’s tactical set up, which did not seem to yield any favorable results. Despite Nicaragua’s effort the Central Americans rarely threatened Mexico’s goal; occasionally sending long range shots, which, for the most part, were easy for goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa to contain.

 
Mexico, on the other hand, while having control of the ball, did not appear to have a clear idea of how to break down the Nicaraguan’s defensive wall.

Finally, in the 85th minute Medina reappeared; this time sending a cross from the right wing into the path of Giovani dos Santos. The cross, however, was too high and sailed over dos Santos head and straight into the onrushing Pablo Barrera who slotted the ball in to seal Mexico’s win.

Joel Aceves, Goal.com

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