Posted on March 1, 2012
Miami — Now, here’s a sight you don’t see very often: the Mexican National Team losing a home game.
No, not at Azteca Stadium, but rather in the United States, which is considered El Tri’s home away from home because of the huge Hispanic populations in which Mexico plays north of the Rio Grande.
The Mexicans were outplayed by Colombia, which recorded a deserved 2-0 triumph in an international friendly before 51,000 spectators at Sun Life Stadium on Wednesday night.
The South Americans took a 1-0 lead on a Radamel Falcao goal in the 37th minute. A low shot by Dorlan Pabon was pushed out by goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and Falcao knocked it into the net.
The Colombians increased their lead to 2-0 on the hour. James Rodriguez started that scoring sequence, passing to Pablo Armero, who raced down the left side and sent a low cross to Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, who scored.
Mexican striker Javier Hernandez endured a frustrating night. He had an opportunity just before the half, but he sent his shot side and he wound up having very few other chances.
“It was a very tough game, we are obviously saddened by the loss but whether we win, lose or draw, we have to keep on improving,” the man known as Chicharito told Reuters. “It is different to learn from a win or a defeat – we have to learn from this 2-0.
“The coach told us we have to keep on working, it doesn’t mean the end of anything, we have to be a little bit more consistent, but we were facing a very formidable opponent, we always trying to impose ourselves but sometimes you come up against a team that dictates the game.”
It turned out to be a winning debut for new Colombia coach Jose Pekerman.
“We believe in the players, we had seen from the outside, before we took over, that this team had possibilities,” he was quoted by Reuters. “I had the feeling tonight that the team was really balanced, the players put in a lot of effort and we saw the attacking players working hard when they didn’t have the ball.”
Photo: Javier Hernandez fired blanks in his few scoring opportunities against Colombia. Andy Mead/YCJ
Categories: Mexico, North America
Tags: Chicharito, El Tri, Guillermo Ochoa, Javier Hernandez, Jose Pekerman, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, Radamel Falcao, Sun Life Stadium
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