By:Aaron Campbell (Twitter:@AaCamp81)
Photos courtesy of John and Hazel May
Match In Pictures
Match Report
A combative and at times enterprising Canada were unable to capitalise on the chances they created and the guile and skill of their experienced opponents told as Mexico claimed a 3-0 victory and 3 crucial points in the hunt for a spot in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Javier Hernandez (31) scored from a Miguel Layun cross his first in the qualifying campaign, and Hirving Lozano (40′) scored his first international goal to give the Mexicans a good start in the first half. Jesus Corona’s goal (72) put the game beyond the reach of the hard-working Canadians on Friday March 25.
El Salvador’s draw with Honduras meant that neither team could make up ground on Mexico or Canada, but the Canadian men will be hoping to get a point out of the return game at the Azteca on Tuesday March 29 in order to keep their second place in Group A. Canada will need to do better than allowing their opponents 16 shots at goal, and will want to fight for more time on the ball than 41% possession.
The game started cagily with loose passes from both teams. Atiba Hutchinson did well to cut out a clearance and Marcel De Jong won a free kick on the left touchline in the 3rd minute. The ball was sent in and only half cleared with Ricketts ending up offside.
In the 11th minute Borjan didn’t throw the ball out well and saw it intercepted. Hector Herrera had possession on the left wing and cut inside across the edge of the penalty area, looking to curl a shot into the right side of the goal. Borjan made up for his previous error with a great save, putting the ball out for a corner that was well defended.
In the 14th minute Hernandez showed quick feet on the right touchline to get away from Adam Straith. He passed the ball inside for Lozano who won and took a corner from the right side. The delivery was headed out by the Canadian defence, but only went as far as Layun whose half volleyed drive looked to be arrowing towards the top left corner but went just wide of the post.
Canada’s first threat on the Mexican goal came on the 20th minute as Atiba Hutchinson pushed forward with purpose. His ball forward to Ricketts was held up well and fed back. Hutchinson spread the play out to the left and De Guzman put in a looping cross. It was missed by everyone and bounced loose to an onrushing Junior Hoilett on the right side of the penalty area. His rushed shot was sent high over the bar.
Mexico had a penalty claim in the 23rd minute as Lozano beat Adam Straith on the right side. He tumbled under the pressure, but the referee wasn’t interested. The ball was quickly sent the other way and Marcel De Jong sprung the Mexico offside trap with a ball down the left channel. Cyle Larin was onto it well, but his touch took him a slightly wide. Under good pressure from the covering defender, Larin sent his attempt high and wide of the left post.
Herrera served Canada a reminder to keep the midfield tight in the 27th minute, as he picked the ball up all alone on the right side of midfield. His ball across the box was looking for the clever run of Hernandez, but Borjan cut it out well. Mexico came right back and Guardado was able to let loose a shot towards the bottom right that Borjan beat our for a corner on the left side. The corner was sent in and once again cleared only as far as Layun. As before his half-volley was destined for the bottom left corner but Borjan spotted the shot through traffic and made a great save, forcing the ball to the right for another corner that came to nothing.
Mexico broke the deadlock in the 31st minute. The ball was very carefully and patiently worked across the field from right to left as the Canadian midfield collapsed in front of them. Layun put in a curling deep cross from the left touchline and Javier Hernandez was unmarked in the centre of the arean and put the header in the left hand side of the goal.
Canada had a stroke of luck in the 34th minute as Mexico hit both posts in succession. Corona was able to release the lively Lozano down the right side who had the pace to beat De Jong and roll the ball across the six yard box. Hernandez could only hammer the ball against the left post and saw it bounce out to Hector Herrera. He took his time and, from the top left of the six yard box curled a shot onto the right post that bounced away harmlessly.
Junior Hoilett showed some hunger in the 36th minute as he forced a chance for himself, doing well to beat his man in the centre of the field but losing control of the ball. He kept chasing and won it back with a robust challenge. He was able to work a small patch of space at the top of the box, but his left footed shot wasn’t hit cleanly and was sent over the bar.
Hector Lozano was able to capitalise on a Canadian mistake in midfield in the 39th minute and score his first international goal. Atiba Hutchinson’s square ball to Will Johnson was too soft and Lozano nipped in to intercept in the middle of the park, knocking it forward for Hernandez. Lozano continued his run and the through ball was weighted perfectly, giving Lozano a head start on Straith down the right channel. His shot was finished powerfully into the top right corner, giving Mexico a 2-0 lead.
The 40th minute saw good attacking play from Canada. Cyle Larin did well to beat his marker on the left wing, but his square ball couldn’t find Hoilett. The clearance was laboured and Hutchinson was able to cut it out and pass it forward to a team-mate. The return ball saw Hutchinson find space on the left side of the penalty area, but his ball into the danger area was rushed, and Mexico were able to scrappily get it clear.
Canada had a penalty claim of their own in the 43rd minute as Hutchinson was once again alive to sluggish clearance from Mexico, charging down Guardado’s attmept to hit the ball long. He pushed forward into the penalty area and was brought down by a combination of Layun and the recovering Guardado. The referee waved play on and Mexico swiftly went to the other end, winning a corner that came to nothing.
Canada started the second half in a much more composed manner, carefully moving the ball around the back field before De Jong put a long ball forward looking for Larin in the 48th minute. It wasn’t dealt with well and Hoilett put the pressure on, forcing the ball to Larin. The Canadian youngster turned well on the top left corner of the penalty area, but his eventual shot was a tame roll towards goal that Talavera dealt with comfortably.
Substitute Scott Arfield was able to coax a good save from Talavera in the 51st minute. The move was started by Hutchinson latching onto a poor bit of control from Hernandez in the centre of the field. He released Arfield into space and he took off towards the left flank, feeding Hoilett who patiently held the ball on the left edge of the penalty area. Arfield continued his run and Hoilett found him with a square pass that allowed him to put a shot on target that Talavera was able to save.
Hernandez thought he had added another in 59th minute, but his classy finish into the top right corner was chalked off as he was in an offside position when the ball was poked through to him. The game settled into a pattern of Mexico having more of the ball and Canada defending resolutely. Whenever the Canadians got forward the Mexicans were looking to exploit the space left behind quickly and efficiently.
Jesus Corona, who had previously had a very quiet night, sealed the game in the 72nd minute. A cross on the right side from Herrera was headed away well by Doneil Henry, but picked up by an opponent 20 yards from goal. He had the presence of mind to find Corona all on his own on the left of the penalty box, in the space left by Henry. The full back made a recovering challenge, but Corona was patient and went around the sliding challenge before finishing into the top right corner of the goal.
Mexico kept Canada on their toes, in the 77th minute, having a good break in numbers as Straith’s clearance was charged down. The ball was sent down the right flank and the squaring pass span across the top of the box, just beyond the onrushing Corona. It ended with Arfield on the Canadian right, who struggled to get it clear but was fouled by the pressing Mexican players.
Mexico showed they weren’t willing to settle in the 86th minute. Four players pressed on Jakovic at the same time, winning the ball around 35 yards from goal, in the centre of the field. The ball was moved forward and found it’s way to Layun in the left half of the penalty are who looped a cross over to the opposite side. Substitute Marco Fabian, volleyed it first time, flashing it past Borjan and rattling the crossbar.
Scott Arfield had an opportunity to grab a consolation in the 93rd minute. His turn in the centre of the field was loose and popped the ball out beyond his reach, but into the path of an onrushing Will Johnson. The Canadian number 8 slipped the ball through to Arfield who had continued his run. Talavera was out very quickly and able to take the ball off Arfield’s foot and Johnson wasn’t able to capitalise on the goalkeeper being out of position, despite following up well and picking up the loose ball.
Referee Kimbell Ward wasn’t too involved in the game, but booked Scott Arfield in the 70th minute for a high foot on Andres Guardado. The debutant’s name was the only one taken by the referee from St. Kitts and Nevis.
Canada’s starting XI featured Milan Borjan in goal, Doneil Henry at right back, Adam Straith and Dejan Jakovic at centre back, Marcel De Jong at left back, and Julian De Guzman (c), Atiba Hutchinson, Will Johnson, Junior Hoilett, Tosaint Ricketts and Cyle Larin from the midfield up through to the attack.
Coach Benito Floro made one change at half time, replacing Tosaint Ricketts with Scott Arfeld, for his debut, and in the second half, Julian De Guzman was replaced by Samuel Piette (71), and Junior Hoilett was replaced by Tesho Akindele (83)
It was Captain Julian De Guzman’s 86th appearance for the senior team, making him the all-time leader in international appearances, taking over from Paul Stalteri.
Mexico’s starting XI featured Alfredo Talavera in goal, Paul Aguilar at right back, Hector Herrera and Diego Reyes at centre back, Miguel Layun at left back and Rafael Marquez (c)Andres Guardado, Jesus Manuel Corona, Hector Moreno, Hirving Lozano and Javier Hernandez in midfield through to attack.
Coach Juan Carlos Osorio made on change at half time, replacin Rafael Marquez with Jesus Molina, and in the second half Hecotr Lozano was replaced by Marco Fabian (60) and Javier Hernandez was replaced by Javier Aquino (71).
