Photo Credit: CONCACAF
Only cats have more lives than Rafa Marquez. With Mexico featuring an array of young exciting players it was the pride and joy of Zamora, Mexico that would once again lift the supporter’s spirits in their time of need. Marquez’s late goal erased a second half slip for El Tri and helped them get past Uruguay 3-1 in front 60,025 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Early on it appeared that Mexico would make short work of the Luis Suarez-less Uruguay. Following head coach Juan Carlos Osorio’s strategy to a tee Mexico operated freely and openly down the left and right flanks. With acres of space to exploit midfielder Andres Guardado lifted a cross in just the fourth minute into the Urguayan box. Although his cross was unsuccessful in finding a Mexican attacker it did find Uruguayan defender Alvaro Pereira who errantly hit it into the back of the net.
Despite having the goal advantage Mexico continued to press down on a very conservative Uruguay. Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez was operating under a 4-4-2 however at times it appeared as if forward Edinson Cavani was the lone striker. With Uruguay attempting to play ten men behind the ball Mexico controlled possession and forced their opponents to play catch-up around most of the pitch.
Uruguay’s best opportunity in the first half came in the 29th minute when Cavani broke through the Mexican defense and hit a low shot on target. His opportunity was ultimately squelched by a diving Alfredo Talavera.
The game of cat and mouse produced several difficult challenges from a perturbed Uruguayan defense. Tension boiled over just around halftime when midfielder Matias Vecino earned his second yellow card for La Celeste.
Down a man and a goal behind, one might have expected Uruguay to pack it in. But Tabarez’s side found life in the second half thanks to opportunities on set pieces and a little luck. Cavani’s free kick opportunity in the 66th minute looked promising but was cleared away by the Mexican wall.
Mexico would not be as lucky in the 73rd minute as Guardado would earn his second yellow and give Uruguay another crack. The midfielder Carlos Sanchez’s attempt would go back post where center-back Diego Godin would knock home the equalizer. It was his eighth goal in his 99th cap for Uruguay.
But just as the tempo appeared to sway in favor of the 2011 Copa America champions it would come back to El Tri. Marquez would hit home the game-winner in the 85th after finishing off a Mexican corner kick.
Before Uruguay could mount another comeback Mexico would strike again. Midfielder Hector Herrera, who appeared to score Mexico’s first goal, finished off Uruguay with a header past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to put the result at 3-1. The goal was Herrera’s fourteenth of his international career. Credit to subsitutes Raul Jimenez and Hirving Lozano with setting up the final goal.
With the win, Mexico (1-0-0, 3 points) not only earn their third victory against Uruguay in Copa America play but also take the lead in Group C. Despite being level with Venezuela on points, El Tri has a superior Goal Differential (+2 to +1). Osorio will hope his side continues their winning ways on Thursday when they travel to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to take on Jamaica (0-1-0, 0 points).
Uruguay (0-1-0, 0 points), despite entering the tournament as a favorite, will have a must-win match against Venezuela at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.
MATCH SUMMARY
Mexico- Alfredo Talavera, Nestor Araujo, Diego Reyes, Hector Moreno, Miguel Layun, Hector Herrera, Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado, Jesus Corona (Jesus Duenas 61′), Javier Hernandez (Raul Jimenez 83′), and Javier Aquino (Hirving Lozano 55′).
Goals- Pereira (4′-o.g.), Marquez (85′), and Herrera (90+2′)
Yellow Card: Jimenez (90+3′)
Red Card: Guardado (73′)
Uruguay- Fernando Muslera, Maxi Pereira, Jose Gimenez, Diego Godin, Alvaro Pereira, Carlos Sanchez (Gaston Ramirez 84′), Egidio Rios, Matias Vecino, Nicolas Lodeiro (Alvaro Gonzalez 46′), Edinson Cavani, and Diego Rolan (Abel Hernandez 60′).
Goal- Godin (74′)
Yellow Cards- Gimenez (59′), M. Pereira (68′), and Godin (84′)
Red Card- Vecino (45′)
MATCH ATTENDANCE: 60,025
Mexico
Copa America
