- Dave Donnelly
- Thu, Jun 22 2017
Mexico had a narrow escape in Sochi tonight as they overcame a half-time deficit to defeat New Zealand 2-1 to earn their first Confederations Cup Group A win.
Raul Jiminez and Oribe Peralta netted in the second half for El Tri after Chris Wood had given the All Whites a deserved lead going into the the break.
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio made eight changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Portugal on Sunday as Javier Hernandez, Miguel Layún and Hector Morena all dropped to the bench.
It was to prove a questionable decision as, following an early period of Mexican dominance, New Zealand grew in confidence and stature as the half wore on.
Mexico bore little resemblance to the tenacious side that overran the Republic of Ireland three weeks ago in New Jersey, when they ran out comfortable 3-1 winners.
While New Zealand were similarly unrecognisable from the side that struggled for long periods against Cabinteely in Blackrock several hours earlier.
Leeds United striker Wood mixed the ridiculous with the sublime that evening, missing a hatful of clear chances before scoring twice in the space of two minutes as his side laboured to a 5-2 win.
And he was to stay true to form in Sochi, missing two clear-cut opportunities before eventually breaking New Zealand's tournament duck five minutes from the break.
His first chance saw him shoot tamely at stand-in keeper Alfredo Talavera when slipped in one-on-one with the keeper, and his second was a slip when the ball sat up for him to head home in the box.
In between those chances, he had been involved in a tangle of legs with Carlos Salcedo that had incensed the Mexico bench – Wood wasn't at fault, but the defender had to go off injured.
Wood redeemed himself just before the break as he took Clayton Lewis' clever diagonal pass in stride before calmly lifting his shot over the dive of Talavera.
The burly striker should have doubled his side's lead eight minutes after the break when he was slipped in behind the disorganised Mexican defence but his control was poor and Talavera mopped up.
It was to prove a costly miss as Mexico went up the other end of the pitch and Javier Aquino cut in from the left before teeing up Jiminez, whose shot shouldn't have been able to beat Stefan Marinovic from 18 yards.
And the Mexicans took the lead 18 minutes from time when Aquino again played the role of creator, pulling the ball back for Peralta curl the ball home at the near post.
New Zealand went close to equalising five minutes from time as Ryan Thomas crashed a shot off the post, and there was a minor diplomatic incident as injury time approached.
The catalyst was a nasty two-footed tackle by Michael Boxall after Luis Reyes had dragged his shirt back to halt a counter-attack with Mexico short at the back.
20 players piled into a melée as tempers frayed and arms flayed, and the Video Assistant Referees eventually ruled yellow cards be produced for Reyes, Boxall and Thomas.
New Zealand weren't to have another chance to force a famous draw, however, as Mexico held on by the skin of their noses and now need only a draw against Russia on Saturday to progress.
Mexico: Alfredo Talavera; Nestor Araujo, Oswaldo Alanis (Hector Herrera 46), Diego Reyes, Carlos Salcedo (Hector Moreno 33 (Rafael Marquez 68)); Marco Fabian, Juergen Damm, Javier Aquino; Giovani Dos Santos, Raul Jiminez, Oribe Peralta.
Subs not used: Guillermo Ochoa (gk), Rodoifa Cota (gk), Andres Guardado, Luis Reyes, Miguel Layún, Diego Reyes, Jonathan Dos Santos, Hirving Lozano, Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez.
Booked: Hector Herrera (90+2), Diego Reyes (90+2).
New Zealand: Stef Marinovic; Andrew Durante, Michael Boxall, Tommy Smith, Declan Wynne; Michael McGlinchey, Clayton Lewis (Bill Tuiloma 58), Dane Ingham (Monty Patterson 82), Marco Rojas (Kosta Barbarouses 73), Ryan Thomas; Chris Wood.
Subs not used: Glen Moss (gk), Tom Doyle, Kip Colvey, Sam Brotherton, Storm Roux, Alex Rufer, Shane Smeltz, Themi Tzimopolous, Tamati Williams.
Booked: Michael Boxall (90+2).
Referee: Bakary Gassama
Attendance: 25,133
