Fansided

Álvarez injury mars flashy win for Team Mexico

By Thomas Buckley

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 05: A Mexico fans celebrates a Mexico goal during the international friendly between Mexico and Venezuela on June 5, 2019 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 05: A Mexico fans celebrates a Mexico goal during the international friendly between Mexico and Venezuela on June 5, 2019 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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El Tri steadied itself after a fluky goal, scoring two exquisite goals to defeat Venezuela 3-1.

Rodolfo Pizarro and Andrés Guardado scored second-half goals and Team Mexico looked dominant in midfield despite losing Edson Álvarez to injury before the half-hour mark. Coach “Tata” Martino will be pleased with the outcome of the game, but must be dreading the medical report on Álvarez’s right knee.

If there is one thing “Tata” wanted to avoid at all costs, it was yet another hit to the roster. It could be especially costly if the 21-year-old midfielder suffered an MCL injury as Álvarez has been touted for a move to Europe over the summer.

Álvarez saw his right knee bent backwards at an awkward angle when Junior Moreno arrived late with a challenge. The Americanista tried to continue but quickly realized he was unable to and he limped off the field in tears at the half-hour mark.

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By then, El Tri was already losing after Jhonny Murillo scored a fluke goal from distance I minute 18. TV commentators criticized Mexico goalie Jonathan Orozco for being out of position, but the “shot” seemed more like an errant cross that swerved and dipped before hitting the underside of the crossbar at the far post. It’s unlikely Orozco could have made that save without a ladder.

The Venezuela goal came against the run of play as Mexico dominated the first 15 minutes of play. El Tri were yo-yoing the ball across the back, then flooding forward with Monterrey teammates Carlos Rodríguez, Rodolfo Pizarro and Jesús Gallardo finding time on the ball. But the dominance only translated into two limp shots on goal.

Mexico overcame the double body blow of the goal and the injury quickly, answering with a hustle goal in minute 32. Right back Fernando Navarro got forward and zipped a cross into the goalie box that pinballed loose right in front of goal. Pizarro deflected the ball away from a Venezuela defender and Roberto Alvarado swooped in from the right to blast home from 10 meters.

Team Mexico defeats Venezuela
Roberto Alvarado is mobbed by teammates after scoring for El Tri in minute 32. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images) /

Mexico went into the locker room at the half with confidence after enjoying 65% possession and launching 9 shots. Navarro looked good as did Rodríguez, while captain Raúl Jiménez was a 45-minute man, chasing on defense and creating openings on offense.

Nine minutes after the restart, El Tri broke out after a Venezuela corner kick. Orozco saw Alvarado free wide left, but the Cruz Azul winger was almost stripped as he tried to move out. Erick Gutiérrez arrived and fired a pass to Jiménez just past midfield and the skipper one-timed a lead pass to Gallardo overlapping down the left flank. Gallardo’s first centering pass was stuffed, but he recovered and firmly re-centered low to Pizarro who was cutting right-to-left in front of goal. Pizarro neatly side-footed the cross into the net and Mexico led 2-1.

In minute 63, Jiménez wasted an easy chance with the goalie on the ground, but he poked the rebound straight at the keeper instead of roofing it. Thirteen minutes later, El Tri scored its third of the match off a fine individual effort by debutante Uriel Antuna.

Just eight minutes after coming on, the L.A. Galaxy star eluded two defenders as he made a nifty run down the right flank then ripped a low cross across the top of the box past a crowd and onto the left foot of Guardado. “El Principito” let fly from 15 meters and his low shot rippled the netting just inside the far post.

El Tri saw out the match after that with relative ease although they had to survive a bit more rough stuff. Diego Reyes alertly prevented a late goal by Venezuela when he scooted back to the goal line and headed away a shot by Juan Pablo Añor. Orozco had been forced to rush out off his line when the Mexico defense got caught out of position, but Reyes and others scrambled back to cover up their mistake.

Coach Martino now has three wins from three games with El Tri. Mexico next plays on Sunday against Ecuador in Arlington, Texas.

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