Global Courant
The Kraken stadium, in Mazatlán, vibrated with the game between Mexico and Guatemala, in which both teams showed a very good proposal, although the final victory was for the Mexicans 2-0.
A good game offered both teams, which from the first minutes showed their armadas and strategy to seek to take control of the game. Mexico began to look for Nicholas Hagen’s goal, while the Sele was organized in the lower zone and sought to manage the times in the midfield with Alejandro Galindo and Rodrigo Saravia, as the leaders of that zone.
But at minute 14, the Mexicans attacked from the left side, a move that was not very dangerous, but in service, Nicolás Samayoa swept with open arms and the ball hit his hand, for which the referee a penalty was awarded and Raúl Jiménez arrived, who, despite announcing his shot, goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen could not guess and the ball went to the bottom.
With the score in their favor, it was expected that the Mexicans would be more insistent in attack, but the Guatemalan team got back in order and took control of the ball and began to put work to the Aztec defense.
So much so, that at minute 18, Antonio López, one of the most unbalanced in Tena’s team, sent a service to the Mexican area and the ball hit Víctor Guzmán’s arm, but referee Nelson Salgado from Honduras did not signal the goal. penalty in favor of the Bicolor.
Raúl Jiménez (9) is congratulated after scoring the first goal for the Mexicans. (Free Press Photo: EFE)
Guatemala kept the pressure high on the rival zone and put Diego Cocca’s team in trouble and towards the end of the first half, they had two clear options to tie. The first at 38′, Antonio López raised a cross and the debutant Esteban García, beat the Mexican center-backs and finished off with a header, but in the background goalkeeper Luis Malagón with a spectacular save sent the ball to the corner kick.
Esteban García (19) had a good performance in his first game with the Bicolor. (Free Press Photo: EFE)
And a minute later, a loose ball outside the big area, Rodrigo Saravia took a strong shot and again Malagón flew and managed to deflect the shot, drowning out the goal cry for the Guatemalans.
For the second half, Guatemala began dominating the game, locking Mexico in their zone and disturbed the defense with a shot from Alejandro Galindo that was heading towards goal, but Néstor Araujo managed to deflect the shot.
Faced with the Guatemalan harassment that dominated and Carlos Mejía in offense became a headache, coach Diego Cocca had to start rotating his team and for this reason he brought in two offensive men like Luis Chávez and Uriel Antuna, both changed his facing the Aztec team and they began to slow down the Blue and White.
The game remained very even, back and forth. Luis Fernando Tena brought in Jorge Aparicio, Renato Sequén and Pedro Altán, to refresh the midfield and propose in attack, but Mexico was already more organized and with its advanced lines.
With the ball controlled by the locals, they overcame the Guatemalan lower zone and at minute 80 the goal that sentenced the game fell through Roberto de la Rosa, who scored 2-0.
Despite being down, Guatemala did not faint and continued to press and propose, and at 88′, Pedro Altán had the opportunity to discount after an individual play, but at the moment of finishing, goalkeeper Antonio Rodríguez blocked his shot.
Despite being down, Guatemala did not faint and continued to press and propose, and at 88′, Pedro Altán had the opportunity to discount after an individual play, but at the moment of finishing, goalkeeper Antonio Rodríguez blocked his shot.
Raúl Jiménez (r) from Mexico disputes the ball with Nicolás Samayoa. (Free Press Photo: EFE)
Guatemala left good feelings in terms of their performance, since towards the end of the game they ended up with the ball in their possession, forcing the Mexican squad to take refuge in their area to avoid any surprises.
Now the national team will return to Guatemala to continue their preparation and refine details for their tour of the United States, where they will face Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Venezuela, before beginning their participation in the Gold Cup.
