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Own Goal Helps Swiss Sink Mexico In U-17 Opener
Switzerland scores a goal on a free kick and another on a Mexican own goal as the Swiss beat El Tri 2-0 in the U-17 World Cup opener for both teams.
Oct 24, 2009 3:02:50 PM
Switzerland scored two first-half goals and held on for a 2-0 win over El Tricolor.
Both teams finished their U-17 World Cup opener with 10 men as one player from both sides was sent off in the second half.
First Half
The two teams exchanged near-misses in the first 20 minutes. Mexico's Gil Cordero ripped a shot on goal but Swiss 'keeper Benjamin Siegrist made the save.
Oliver Buff was a handful in the early on for Switzerland and nearly put his country ahead in the 18th minute. Buff slammed a long-range shot off the crossbar as Mexico were saved momentarily.
The Mexicans' luck, though, did not last long. Switzerland were awarded a free kick in the 21st minute and Pajtim Kasami took the shot. Kasami fired a left-footed shot over the wall and into the back of the net as Mexico 'keeper Jose Rodriguez could not get to the sailing ball.
Mexico pressured the Swiss defense in search of an equalizer. Victor Omar Mañon tested the Swiss goal in the 24th minute but Siegrist did well to make the save.
Mañon had a wayward shot go over the goal in the 33rd minute as Mexico maintained their pressure.
However, it was Switzerland who nabbed a goal before halftime, with Rodriguez's help. In the 41st minute, Granit Xhaka sent a corner kick into the box from the right side of the field. Rodriguez came out for the ball and tried to punch it clear but instead delfected it backwards and the ball ended up in Mexico's goal.
Dumbfounded, Hernandez sat on the grass as Swiss players celebrated their good fortune.
Second Half
The game started to get out of hand early in the second half. Mexico's Jairo Gonzalez and Guillermo Madrigal picked up yellow cards in the 48th and 52nd minutes, respecitvely, as Mexico were seemingly not focused on the game and their attempts at a comeback.
But Switzerland also started to mix it up physically with El Tri. In the 60th moinute, Buff picked up a yellow after a hard foul on Bryan Leyva.
Five minutes later Buff was gone as he picked up his second yellow card of the match.
With a man advantage, Mexico tried to push forward and get back into the game. El Tri had three shots within the next 10 minutes but couldn't place any in areas of danger.
Mexico's hopes of a comeback vanished in the 84th minute however as Martin Ponce was sent off with a straight red card. Ponce and Kasami went in for a ball together but Ponce kicked Kasami and was shown the exit.
Switzerland seemed instantly relaxed after the goal and were able to hold on for the victory.
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