Group B Matchday 2 9/Jul/09

Mexico v. Panama 1-1



After the circus in which the national coach of the Mexican team was involved, Mexico rescued from scratch a draw which can be considered as a miracle, mainly because of the gruesome, not to say horrendous display that the national team offered. With appearances such as the one we looked at today one can think of the following encounters that the Mexican team will have in the World Cup qualifiers. The unassailable cloud of pessimism in the media is justified to some extent.
Obviously Aguirre will receive his ban hoping not to miss the clash against the United States. The World Cup ticket is not in danger and neither is Mexico's participation in the latter stages of the wretched tournament the Gold Cup is.







Fortunately the Mexican team began with the right foot: Giovanni set Sabah after an accurate counter-attack. The Monarcas striker scored past the Panama keeper and the sheet was one-nil up for the Mexicans. After the lead, the "home" side enjoyed a fair time of possession and chances, one which Sabah again could not finish. He lamented when Panama obtained the equaliser through Pachuca's Blaz Perez, in a set piece. From then until the end of the first half the Mexicans fail to accomplish any attempts and the personality shown by Giovanni was dissolved into thin air. The surprises of the following half were to be greater than they were in a final or a semifinal, in any case.







The actions were initiated and Omar Bravo's header, at the 53rd, was a reminder of the things to come. The "home" side offered many options especially with counter-attacks. Mexico's prowess, at the 61st minute, relied on strong attacking and pressure which was somehow adjusted in the midfield with Torrado taking all the load, which was shadowed at times by the great physical display the visitors.
As Mexico attacked desperately in order to grab a late winner, Phillips and Aguirre entered in a ramble, which was symbolised the mental functioning of the team. Obviously the childish rant from a manager against a player was one of the most despicable and deplorable circumstances yet faced by a Mexican manager on the pitch. Two sent offs and a largely disappointed crowd, who were throwing all kinds of flak from the stands, were the outcome of the torrid evening.
Phillips did not have any intention to leave the pitch as Aguirre was heading to the stands. In a moment I felt relieved and began to laugh at the clownish performance of a national coach which was at a party and a referee who did not have any authority neither towards himself nor the players. The fight took nearly 6 minutes to clear. Martinolli's narration described the whole succinctly as a "A Cabaret".
The outrageous yet obvious additional time was ten minutes. Eventually the match had to be suspended. The match ended in quite a terrible fashion, as the Central American players exit the field escorted by Police.