PASADENA, Calif- A sea of green jerseys roared as Johan Vasquez led Mexico to victory in their last send off game in the US before the Fifa World Cup in front of 78,479 fans with a header in the 28th minute but despite it being a Mexico home game in the Los Angeles area, Australia kept up with only mistakes keeping them behind El Tri.
Mexico started strong with getting the first attempt of the game after a foul by Australia led to a freekick and gave Mexico a chance ending with Luis Chavez attempting a deflected shot in the third minute while the soccerroos did not get their first attempt until the sixth minute.
Australia’s Jackson Irvine got a close call that forced Mexico to wake up in the 16th minute with a left footed attempt in the box stemming from a pass from Lucas Herrington but it went to the far left side of the goal.
At the 25th minute Alexis Vega attempted a backwards header off a cross from the right side but Australia keeper Mathew Ryan jumped just in time to send that ball up and away from the goal but that Australian relief was short lived due to a second corner in the 28th minute from Vega again and Johan Vasquez finding the ball with a flying header attempt which was directed from the right side of the box into the left post and it bounced into the net giving Mexico the lead and the half , 1-0.
The second half started out rocky for Mexico with Australia getting two shots within the first five minutes and to add on, the soccer roos had the majority of possession by the ten minute mark with 69% possession. Australia had something cooking with their newly obtained attacking form.
The 68th minute brought high hopes to the Australians which had Ajdin Hrustic attempting a shot in the box but was immediately blocked by Mexico’s Edson Alvarez in a desperate left legged block which saved Memo Ochoa, who was subbed in, from putting in too much effort in the dangerous play.
Things would later cool down for Australia and fire back up for Mexico in the 77th minute when a scuffle between the teams started after a goal was not counted for Mexico which would have been from an own goal and El Tri took back control with refreshed 51% possession by the 81st minute.
In the end, Mexico may have been the victors at a seemingly home match with the desired atmosphere but Australia held their own against El Tri and did not let more than one goal pass through them. Australia’s defensive midfielder Aiden O’Neill believes that this is a clear sign that the Aussies can hold their own against top teams, “We can come to a venue where we are clearly not the home team and we can keep the quality high,” O’Neill said.
Australia are set to face Switzerland in San Diego next Saturday while Mexico have their last home friendly before the World Cup against Serbia on Thursday.
Article by Henry Caceres Photos by Alex Amen
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