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| February 15th 2005 |
Mexico City, Estadio Azteca
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| SPAIN - MEXICO |
1-1 (0-1)
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GOALS 28' 0-1 Manuel Negrete
70' 1-1 Luis Suarez
REFEREE Pierluigi Collina (Italy)
ATTENDANCE 108,000
YELLOW CARDS Camacho, Migueli (SPA) - Vazquez-Ayala (MEX)
SPAIN (Coach: Miguel Munoz, system 4-3-3)
1 Ricardo Zamora
20 Juan Segarra
18 Miguel Bernardo Migueli
6 Fernando Hierro
2 José Antonio Camacho (captain)
8 José Miguel Michel (-77)
10 Luis Suarez
3 Rafael Gordillo
13 Estanislao Basora (-81)
7 Raul Gonzalez Blanco (-55)
11 Francisco Gento
Substitutes:
17 Luis Regueiro (+55)
14 Josep Guardiola (+77)
21 Victor Munoz (+81)
MEXICO (Coach: Velibor Milutinovic, system 4-4-2)
1 Antonio Carbajal
2 Arturo Vazquez-Ayala
3 Claudio Luis Suarez
5 Gustavo Pena (captain)
6 Ramon Jesus Ramirez
7 Alberto Garcia Aspe (-67)
12 Salvador Reyes
4 Ignacio Marcos Ambriz
8 Manuel Negrete (-85)
11 Cuauhtemoc Blanco (-85)
9 Hugo Sanchez
Substitutes:
20 Tomas Boy (+67)
19 Carlos Hermosillo (+85)
14 Luis Hernandez (+85)
MATCHREPORT
Mexico needed a win to get back into the race for a spot in the second
round. Still Milutinovic' team, with defensive midfielder Ambriz included in
place of striker Enrique Borja, seemed to think more about their defence
than during the match against the Soviet Union that they lost 0-2. With two
men up front, Blanco and of course Hugo Sanchez, they started the battle
with the Spaniards. Spanish coach Munoz wasn't so satisfied about his
central defenders in the match against the USA, he took De Quincoces off and
replaced him with Migueli, the big man from Barcelona. Sadly enough
Butragueno had to withdraw during the warm-up, still hampered by the
injury that he sustained in the first match. For him Raul won a place in the
starting line-up.
After staging Romania-Paraguay half filled, Estadio Azteca of course this
time had a capacity crowd and the hysterical Mexicans screamed their team
forward. The hometeam however acted rather precautious, as if they feared
the counter-attack of Spain. Still Mexico had the better opportunities in the
first half. But they discovered that beating a man of Zamora's stature was
quite a thing. The great Spanish goalie turned away a low drive from Negrete
and stopped Sanchez in a 1-on-1 duel. He made it look easy. Spain on their
turn were close to scoring when Gento squeezed past Vazquez-Ayala and served
Michel. The man who had opened the scoring in the opening match of the
tournament, now shot it wide.
No, it wasn't magic what Mexico and Spain produced, though entertaining it
was. And in the 28th minute the team that deserved it most, scored the goal.
Negrete set up a 1-2 combination with Garcia Aspe and released an
unstoppable shot for Zamora: 1-0. It put Azteca on fire. Spain had to keep
their heads cool and Fernando Hierro tried to take his team away from their
own goal, to ease the pressure. But in midfield Suarez and Michel, the two
gifted technicians, had a tough time. They had difficulties holding the
ball, with too many fanatical Mexicans around. A few minutes before
half-time Mexico were close to a second goal when Zamora for once had
troubles holding the ball but he was back on track when Blanco tried from a
narrow angle. At the break a marginal but deserved lead for Mexico.
Spain had come to the Azteca to take one point. They had laid back in the
first half but had to make the play during the second. Munoz substituted
Raul, who had done nothing, with Luis Regueiro who had made a huge
impression during World Cup 1934. They played more over the flanks now and
Mexico had to go back. Carbajal had to parry a swerving shot by Suarez and
did well to keep it out, a few moments later a cross from Gordillo fell
behind him, but also just over the bar. Mexico now couldn't do much more
than try to counter quickly, but Spain defended well this time. And when a
striker went through, they didn´t hesitate to use the emergency break.
Migueli dragged Sanchez down and got cautioned by Collina. Camacho underwent
the same when he tackled Negrete brutally. It had become a tense match,
Spain desperately looking for the equalizer and Mexico defending with all
their might. But in vain. In the 70th minute Gordillo advanced along the
outline. Pena intercepted his cross, but Suarez from the top of the box
hammered the ball past Carbajal. That was 1-1, the score Spain would be
really satisfied with. Munoz immediately took off Michel and replaced him
with Guardiola, minutes later Basora was benched for Victor. It was obvious
that Spain against any price wanted to keep this draw. Still they almost
took the lead when Regueiro shook off Suarez and hit the outside of the
post.
Mexico tried at the end, Milutinovic even brought two fresh strikers into
the game with Hernandez and Hermosillo. But it was too little, too late for
the green-white. Though Hermosillo went close in the dying seconds when
Zamora tipped his powerful header over the bar. It ended 1-1, Spain got what
they wanted. With 4 points and the possible win from the Soviet Union against
the USA, not much could go wrong for them. Mexico had squandered a beautiful
chance to go level with Spain and now were depending on the result of
Soviet Union-Spain. Only a Soviet win could help them, but with Lobanovski's
men already through it would be hard to believe that they could easily beat
the strong Spaniards. Anyway, this had been a close and interesting match
with the right result.
Next Friday Holland and Uruguay continue their search for fame as they meet
in Madrid. The winner will almost certainly qualify for the next stage.
Holland has started overwhelmingly by beating the poor Koreans 6-0 and Uruguay
beat Poland less convincingly by a Scarone penalty. A great match is
expected with two teams who are technically among the very best. It will
include very interesting match-ups, for instance between Neeskens and
Francescoli, Andrade and Van Hanegem as well as between both captains,
wizard Cruijff and defensive mastermind Nasazzi. Rinus Michels still doubts
whether to bring Bakhuys or Van Basten, and also is not sure about Wilkes or
Gullit. For the rest he isn't expected to change much to his side. Juan
Lopez most likely will rely on his winning team, too. George Reader from
England will be in charge.
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