Tata debuts 12 players as Mexico cruises past Trinidad & Tobago
Gerardo Tata Martino and the Mexico National team were able to put the disastrous performance against Argentina behind them, thanks to a 2-0 thumping of Trinidad & Tobago. Tata’s starting XI saw eight players get their debut with the senior team.
Mexico’s energetic youth quickly saw them jump all over the visiting squad. El Tri got two early opportunities from the air during the first ten minutes. The Trinitarian goalkeeper would save Erick Aguirre’s header, then two minutes later JJ Macias’s header attempt would go just wide of the goal.
Macias got his shot at redemption and scored his first goal with the senior team in the 23rd minute. The Leon striker stole the ball in the midfield from Daneil Cyrus. JJ then dribbled the ball close to the 18-yard box and blasted a shot that would beat Marvin Phillip.
Tata’s first game in Mexico started the best way possible thanks to the aggression and hunger the youngsters were showing. Not even ten minutes had past when the crowd in Toluca would be celebrating another goal. This time around it was Jesus El Canelo Angulo who scored on a shot from inside the box after the ball deflected off none other than Cyrus.
Out of the 24 players who were called up to this game, 19 of them had the opportunity to make their senior team debut. Martino only made two modifications at halftime but wound up subbing the allowed six players. In total, 12 players made their debut with the senior squad.
Martino’s men continued to control the second half. In the 54th minute, Jose Juan Macias was at it again and nearly scored a beauty on a shot from inside the box that Phillip sent to the corner. El Tri almost made 3-0 in the 61st minute but Phillip made another save. This time off Jairo Torre’s shot attempt, then on the rebound Paulo Yrizar’s awkward scissor kick attempt hit the post and kept the Mexican’s at two goals.
Despite completely dominating the remaining part of the game, Mexico was unable to score any more goals. Several other youngsters like Sebastian Cordova, Paolo Yrizar and Alan Mozo had reliable performances. The game allowed Tata to observe the players on the pitch and see which one of these will make the cut for the matches against Bermuda and Panama in the Nations League.
The crowd at Estadio Nemesio Diez left home happy even though Mexico didn’t score in the second half. JJ Macias proved to be the star of the game, and he’s continuing to show that he has incredible potential to become one of the best players in the Mexican National team.
