Without the captain, there was an apprehension about Mexico’s likelihood of success. Despite of the pre-game festivities that were building on a scenic sunny day with a Hollywood backdrop in the distance, things felt tense once the starting whistle blew.
The stats, at the very least, point to Mexico doing some things right in the game that would prove to be a difficult episode.
Mexico earned more dangerous opportunities (xG of 2.52, in comparison to Venezuela’s 1.19), held more possession (61% to 39%), and narrowly collected more recoveries (50 to 45). On paper, Lozano did what he could to give Mexico their chances, but his team’s limitations, as well as his own, emerged.
Group BGPWDLGDPTS1 – Venezuela2200262 – Ecuador2101133 – Mexico2101034 – Jamaica2002-301, 2: Qualifies for quarterfinals
Desperately needing a new star to take top billing in his act, it was difficult to really pinpoint one player who truly stepped up for Mexico against Venezuela. Midfielder Luis Chávez should be given credit, as should central defenders like Johan Vásquez and new captain César Montes that acted as quarterbacks with their long passes in the NFL venue, but more was still expected of these players and others who were more like extras in the performance on hand.
To make matters worse, Montes was substituted at half-time due to injury, marking the second match in a row that a Mexico captain was taken out due to that reason.
“I don’t know yet,” said Lozano about the Almeria player’s health post-game. “At half-time they told us that it would be tough for him to start in the second half … today we don’t know if we’ll have him in the next game.”
As for Lozano, one couldn’t help but notice that he was out-coached in the second half after Venezuela’s Fernando Batista made the right adjustments and tactical changes that helped lead to the game-winning penalty from Salomón Rondón in the 57th minute.
“At half-time he adjusted a little, and it worked,” Lozano said about Batista. “You have to give him credit for the adjustments he made later [in the game].”
Lozano, looking at his bench, might have realized that he hampered his odds by not including the likes of seasoned veterans such as Chucky or Jimenez, among others.
The South Americans grew with confidence, while El Tri’s ponderous players failed to capitalize on countless moments in the final third. Even when given a penalty in the 87th minute, providing Mexico with yet another prospect to salvage a point, midfielder Orbelín Pineda was unable to shift the scoreline that was cemented at 1-0 in the opposition’s favor by the final whistle.
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Far from a standing ovation for the show on display, boos and cups of beer came raining down from the SoFi Stadium stands, unhappy with the tragic drama of Mexico’s second act in the Copa group stage.
For Lozano’s men, the result marked the first time that Mexico had lost to Venezuela in an official competition. The defeat also meant that El Tri had now lost four consecutive times to Conmebol opponents in non-friendly matches. Mexico could get the job done against a fellow Concacaf rival like Jamaica last week, but against Conmebol? That’s a clearly different story, and perhaps a dark omen ahead of their final group stage game vs. Ecuador on Sunday.
In order to qualify for the knockout round, Lozano and his men will need to defeat the Ecuadorians to guarantee a place within the final eight. However, to the credit of the coach that also lost a group stage last summer before going on to win the Gold Cup, he’s not giving up on his project.
“We have 90 minutes [left] and no one is getting off this ship and we’re going to make it,” Lozano said. “We’re going to make it, of that I’m sure.”
The script isn’t finished quite yet for Lozano.
Source link : https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40442188/mexico-lurches-another-low-dramatic-copa-america-tale
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Publish date : 2024-06-27 02:24:27
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