Mexico played a hard fought game against Peru that they ended up winning with a late Chucky Lozano goal. The win can help mask some of the issues that were on full display for Mexico heading into the World Cup. In the first half Mexico was able to dominate the possession battle. They had a couple of plays on the right wing where they were able to reach the end line. However, that didn’t necessarily translate to clear goal scoring opportunities.
Peru was able to even out the possession battle towards the end of the first half. Heading into the second they seemed more willing to look to keep possession and play in Mexico’s side of the field. The game was very evenly matched all throughout with neither team being able to create clear goal scoring opportunities. There was an outside shot from Edson Alvarez, and another from La Padula from Peru’s side. The only real play that ended with a cross for Mexico in the second half came from an Antuna 1v1 play that was almost headed home by Santi Gimenez. That led to the corner kick which ended in the Chucky Lozano goal.
Position Battles After This Game
Luis Chavez was perhaps the biggest surprise in the starting 11 for Mexico. In the first 30 minutes of the game he showed that he was up to the challenge. When he faced more pressure in the second half of the game he kind of disappeared. Charly Rodríguez was another potentially surprise start. He was also part of that early game pressure for Mexico. Ultimately though, as is the case with him at Cruz Azul sometimes he sort of disappears from the game throughout the second half.
Chavez was facing a big test, and it could be said that he passed, not with flying colors, but he can compete for a spot, and might get playing time in the World Cup. Particularly if Guardado can provide that spark from the bench like he did today in the final minutes of the game. Mexico’s midfielders in Martino’s 4-3-3 are usually put under a lot of strain, so Chavez proved today that he can be a part of the rotation. Chivas’ “Nene” Beltran, and Chavez’s teammate at Pachuca Erick Sanchez seem to be on the outside looking in, and could be cut from the roster.
Roberto Alvarado got the start as an offensive wing player in the spot that was left vacant by Tecatito Corona after his injury. He really couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. He didn’t generate goal scoring chances from his position on the wing. At one point he was competing for the ball in Mexico’s 1st third of the field. That willingness to get back on defense could be what allows him to find a starring role in Qatar. He just is not as twitchy as Antuna who showed that he’s more capable of creating goal scoring chances, perhaps. Alexis Vega may have secured his place even without getting a chance to play due to injury since we didn’t get convincing performances from Alvarado or Antuna.
A Rough Day For The Number 9s
One of the bad things about this game for Martino is that he really can’t draw too many conclusions from this game at the number 9 spot. Henry Martin was missing in action all day today. That maybe wasn’t his fault at all. The only play where Mexico’s number 9 got even a chance to compete for the ball was that Antuna cross that was trying to find Santi Gimenez (who had come on for Martin at that point), that ended in the corner kick which produced the goal. At this point if the battle for the final roster spot is between Gimenez, and Martin we can’t really say that any of the two can take a lot from this game. We’ll have to wait until the Colombia game to see if anything changes.
