Mexico v. Gambia 5-1 30/May/10

Vela assaulted from the back.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet Photo Gallery]


In the rainy landscape of southern Germany, El Tri managed to pull out a large and contrasting victory against their African counterparts to end a clear deficit in their latest European tour. Were the previous two matches exposed certain weakness in some parts of Mexico's defensive system, this time the meager opposition did not help, as well as the pitch, to provide some real contention.

Where there were three different scorers, the scoresheet was a real disgrace compared to what could have happened if the Mexican players would ensured to put the ball in the back of net the same number of arrivals at goal. To tell you the truth, this match offered mere commercial benefits, when the sporting ones are being left aside. Mexico's last and final European clash is against the current World Cup holders, Italy. Meanwhile the final list will be reduced to 23 leaving one player aside. My bet is on a centre-back but Aguirre will probably leave out Jonathan Dos Santos.



Team effort not enough.
[Photo: Digital ABC]


The terrible conditions of the pitch, along with three different starters were the main news. Bautista, Michel and Jonathan Dos Santos all have their place in this the third different starting eleven in three matches. The game started in the odd side for he Africans as they faced an overwhelming opposition that required certainly an effort they have never made before. It was not until Chicharo's goal, in the 17th, that the match did quite start.

There were some nasty challenges on Guardado and Vela but the team managed to compose their attitude and attacked as they had the possible chance. Guardado's incursions on the left, throughout the first half made the difference. Mexico's captain and Barcelona defender Rafael Márquez played in a deep right-back role.


In the second half, the team only began its successive run with Hernández finding the net to grab his brace. It only took five minutes, two substitutions and one well-crossed pass to give Mexico another goal that will ease up things in their front. Six minutes later, another pair of substitutions were made, among them Alberto Medina. It was the Guadalajara winger who took on the first charge after missing a sitter from close range but his assist on Bautista kept things rolling for the "home" team as they scored their third.

In the 65th minute, Ebrima Sonha exposed Mexico's tactical failure in marking. The defending was comical; one can only hope that this happens only in this exhibitions and not against the likes of South Africa or France. Immediately after, Medina and Cuauhtémoc set Bautista gain, who after some struggle, managed to put the Mexicans up one more time. The final goal, despite the fearsome Gambian defending came from Medina as well, just ten minutes until the end. Some substitutions by both teams ended the match in quite a shaken atmosphere.