Photo Credit: Victor Araiza / Prost Amerika
By: Jonny Rico
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The Mexican National Team played its final group stage match in Copa America against Venezuela on Monday night. And for the first time in the Juan Carlos Osorio era, El Tri did not walk away with a win. It did keep an impressive 21-game undefeated streak alive with its 1-1 draw against the South Americans.
The Colombian manager faced what could’ve been his first real test in front of the Mexican side. Although he did bring some of that pressure on himself from the start of the match with his starting lineup. A lot of regular starters were left on the bench in the final group stage match even though Group C first place spot was on the line.
Mexico needed a win or a draw to secure the top spot of the group while Venezuela would leapfrog the Mexicans with a win.
Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, Miguel Layun, Jesus ‘Tecatito’ Corona, Raul Jimenez and Rafael Marquez were all left out of the starting XI on Monday evening. Osorio also sent out a third different goalkeeper for this third match in the competition.
Pressure was on when Venezuela defender Jose Manuel Velazquez volleyed the ball inside of the box after a free kick cross and a flick to open the scoring early in the match. The result would’ve gave Venezuela top spot in the group and forced Mexico to travel to Foxborough, MA to face tournament favorites Argentina. El Tri needed an equalizer or a come from behind win in order to avoid the match up Lionel Messi and company in the east coast.
Osorio’s 4-3-3 formation allowed Mexico to create many dangerous opportunities from the wings but it left the team very vulnerable down the middle of the field. Crosses flew into the box, give-and-goes from the outside towards the middle were created but Mexico was missing the final touch, it could not break down the Venezuela defense.
The Mexican manager had to fix some of the problems he created with the starting lineup. Jesus ‘Tecatito’ Corona came on as a first half substitute after Javier Aquino suffered an injury. Miguel Layun replaced left-back Jorge Torres-Nilo and provided more attacking options from the same position. And finally the logical choice, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez was brought on and replaced defensive midfielder Jesus Molina.
A very organized Venezuela defense was becoming difficult and frustrating for Mexico. Against such a tight defensive unit only a moment of brilliance would be able to break it down. Corona thought he had said moment when he dribbled into the box from the left wing, avoided a sliding tackle with a cut-back and curled a shot to the far post that went just wide of the target. But only a few minutes later Corona once again grabbed the ball and started dribbling through defenders, this time down the middle all the way into the box and fired a shot past Venezuela goalkeeper to tie the game.
Mexico did not take the win but it got what it wanted, it won Group C, it moves on to Santa Clara, CA instead of Foxborough, MA and most importantly it avoids Argentina has quarterfinals opponent. Osorio’s Mexico responded well to the self made pressure but now that the knockout stage of the competition is set to begin, how will it deal with real pressure from some of the stronger teams?
Copa America
