Mexico kept up the good pace in Copa Oro against Haiti
After a disastrous Nations League with Diego Cocca, Mexico shed off the pressure at the start of the Gold Cup with an authoritative 4-0 against a weak Honduras. Now, feeling more comfortable with new coach Jimmy Lozano, Mexico faced a stronger rival this Thursday night in Glendale Arizona, when they squared up against Haiti.
Under Lozano, Mexico start to look more comfortable inside the field, and they have been trying to inflict damage early in the games. Just at the 3’, Luis Chavez took a free kick that was venomous and almost ended inside the net, Haiti’s Goalie deflected the ball, which fell on Machin Alvarez but he could not score, as he sent the ball to the post. At the next minute Haiti were able to counter fast but luckily Carlens Arcus’ shot was a bit off target.
Mexico kept having the ball, and Haiti tried to attack with counters. The biggest chance for Haiti came after a blunder by Luis Romo, who received the ball from Alvarez and wanted to serve back to the defender, but didn’t notice that Donald Guerrier was meandering the area behind him and stole the ball. Fortunately for Mexico, despite having two Haitians in the box, Guerrier shot to goal but Ochoa kept the ball.
Mexico kept dominating the game for the remainder of the first half, even getting dangerously close to opening the score at the 41’ when Orbelin crossed the ball, defender Ricardo Ade had a botched attempt to clear the ball, and it ended on Henry Martin’s feet, who inexplicably was unable to score after being in front of the goalie all by himself.
The goals came in the second half
Martin would get a rapid redemption early in the second half however. Romo passed the ball to Antuna on the left, and unlike the first half –when he would feint a lot and not serve appropriate crosses– this time around, he put a beautiful ball, with all the advantage for the striker, which Martin headed violently into the net.
The next goal came in a beautiful fast-paced play by Mexico that started in the back. The defense passed to Antuna in the midfield and he back-heeled the ball to Chavez, who served to Romo. Romo passed to Gallardo open in the left, and he crossed quickly to Orbelin who came cutting into the little box through the centre. The ball however ended up being deflected by Ricardo Ade and into his own goal.
Mexico kept having control of the game, but Haiti started to play better. At the 76’ came in a corner for the Caribbean team which Danley Jackes ended up violently heading into Ochoa’s net, nice and low and to the left, completely far from Ochoa’s reach.
Chaquito put to rest any comeback attempts
At this point, Mexico seemed to play with a certain uneasiness, while Haiti grew in confidence. This however was resolved by Mexico, once again playing at top speed and accuracy and building a beautiful play from behind. Romo got the ball in the midfield and put a through ball for Antuna. El Brujo once again put a great cross although this time around the ball ended up slightly ahead of the striker, Santiago Gimenez. Chaquito solved this by jumping à la Cuauhtemoc Blanco when he scored that famed goal against Belgium in the 1998 World Cup. Another terrific goal by Mexico, and the first goal scored by a striker since the World Cup in Qatar.
With this result, Jimmy Lozano keeps up the good pace with the national team. While it’s true that Honduras put up minimum resistance in the first game, Haiti were more complicated. Nevertheless, these two teams do not accurately represent the best that Concacaf has to offer in terms of rivals. As such, an analysis of any possible improvement by Lozano’s team has to bear this in mind. That being said, and despite Lozano saying that he doesn’t think ahead of this tournament, if Lozano’s Mexico keep showing this level against stronger rivals, the young coach could become the natural candidate to take the role of national head coach. And this time around, not just as an interim.
