Argentina see off Mexico in a wonder goal
Phew! What a game. Mexico matched Argentina right to the end of extra time but sadly they will have to head home after falling to a super goal from Maxi Rodriguez in the 97th minute. He took a pass off his chest and volleyed it into the top of the net and it was an excellent goal to settle an excellent match.
That wonder goal (left) deflated the Mexican hearts and finally for the first time in the night we saw the talented Argentineans freely passing the ball with skill and trickery, coming close on various times to breach the Mexican defence.
This was exemplified in the 114th minute when Lionel Messi, Pablo Aimar and Carlos Tevez started playing short, beautiful passes and ran rings around the Mexican defence. On that occasion they almost got Messi free towards goal but unfortunately he lost his footing at the vital moment for the Mexicans to clear the ball away.
To their credit, the Mexicans stood firm and even launched an attack or two of their own after going behind at the extra time. They however started the game very well, going ahead in the fifth minute when Rafael Marquez got on the end of a Mario Mendez free-kick.
It did not take Argentina long to equalize as just five minutes later Jared Borgetti headed into his own net under pressure from Hernan Crespo. Crespo was credited with the goal but I thought it was an own goal.
Then the game turned into an end-to-end action with both teams having enough goal-scoring chances.
I thought the introduction of Messi and Tevez in the 75th minute swung the game in the Argentinean favour. Now we saw them passing the ball with more directness and speed into the Mexican half. Still the normal time ended 1-1.
Twice in the normal time Messi and Tevez went very close to score and right in the end of normal time, Messi did put one in the net, only to be ruled off side. The referee got it wrong there.
Argentina started brightly in the extra time and took the lead they richly deserved in the 97th minute through that superb goal. They then continued to control the game and won comfortably in the end.
I feel sorry for Mexico as they have to be the losers here. They played their part in one of the best matches of the tournament.
As for Argentina, this match showed that they can also grind out results when needed. This victory was very different from the stylish wins they accomplished in the first round. But still they managed to play their beautiful game today and most importantly they won.
They now head towards Berlin to play home nation Germany in the quarter finals. That will be an entertaining and close match no doubt, but you do get the feeling that Argentina still has something left in the locker to go further in the tournament. Let’s see how it goes on June 30.
Phew! What a game. Mexico matched Argentina right to the end of extra time but sadly they will have to head home after falling to a super goal from Maxi Rodriguez in the 97th minute. He took a pass off his chest and volleyed it into the top of the net and it was an excellent goal to settle an excellent match.
That wonder goal (left) deflated the Mexican hearts and finally for the first time in the night we saw the talented Argentineans freely passing the ball with skill and trickery, coming close on various times to breach the Mexican defence.This was exemplified in the 114th minute when Lionel Messi, Pablo Aimar and Carlos Tevez started playing short, beautiful passes and ran rings around the Mexican defence. On that occasion they almost got Messi free towards goal but unfortunately he lost his footing at the vital moment for the Mexicans to clear the ball away.
To their credit, the Mexicans stood firm and even launched an attack or two of their own after going behind at the extra time. They however started the game very well, going ahead in the fifth minute when Rafael Marquez got on the end of a Mario Mendez free-kick.
It did not take Argentina long to equalize as just five minutes later Jared Borgetti headed into his own net under pressure from Hernan Crespo. Crespo was credited with the goal but I thought it was an own goal.
Then the game turned into an end-to-end action with both teams having enough goal-scoring chances.
I thought the introduction of Messi and Tevez in the 75th minute swung the game in the Argentinean favour. Now we saw them passing the ball with more directness and speed into the Mexican half. Still the normal time ended 1-1.
Twice in the normal time Messi and Tevez went very close to score and right in the end of normal time, Messi did put one in the net, only to be ruled off side. The referee got it wrong there.
Argentina started brightly in the extra time and took the lead they richly deserved in the 97th minute through that superb goal. They then continued to control the game and won comfortably in the end.
I feel sorry for Mexico as they have to be the losers here. They played their part in one of the best matches of the tournament.
As for Argentina, this match showed that they can also grind out results when needed. This victory was very different from the stylish wins they accomplished in the first round. But still they managed to play their beautiful game today and most importantly they won.
They now head towards Berlin to play home nation Germany in the quarter finals. That will be an entertaining and close match no doubt, but you do get the feeling that Argentina still has something left in the locker to go further in the tournament. Let’s see how it goes on June 30.
posted by Kabilan K at
11:28 PM
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