El Tri was the more dangerous side the first 45 minutes but lucky to be even after Venezuela star Salomon Rondon hit the right post in the 34th. That changed when Batista brought on Cristian Casseres Jr. — formerly with the New York Red Bulls, now at Toulouse — at halftime to offset Mexico’s midfield advantage. It was La Vinotinto’s game from that point.
Venezuela, driven by Casseres and wingers Yeferson Soteldo and Eduard Bello, applied steady pressure and came close through Soteldo, testing Gonzalez from the left five minutes into the half, and Rondon, his shot deflected just wide in the 53rd.
Venezuela took the lead four minutes later on Rondon’s penalty kick after Quiñones brought down Jon Aramburu in the box, charging in from the right after Bello fed a nifty, leg-splitting Casseres pass.
Mexico ought to have shared the points. Aided by some poor Venezuelan defending, it created three excellent chances in the box. One of which led to the PK, which Oberlin Pineda, among El Tri’s most experienced players, weakly hit toward the left corner. A diving Romo made a simple save. Another put Martinez one-on-one with Romo at the right post. The keeper made the stop.
And so Ecuador and a potential first-stage exit loom. And that might be the least of Mexico’s problems. Lozano must know this, but he has a job to do — with whatever talent he’s provided— and a role to play.
“This team performs very well in adversity,” he said. “This is what Mexicans do best, [prevail when] in adversity.”
Source link : https://www.socceramerica.com/downward-spiraling-mexico-faces-early-copa-america-exit-yet-coach-jaime-lozano-remains-the-optimist/
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Publish date : 2024-06-27 15:28:24
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