The Mexican national team of Colombian coach Juan Carlos Osorio beat Ireland 3-1 in their last friendly before returning next week to the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
In New Jersey, Jesus Corona (m.16), Raul Jimenez (m.25) and Carlos Vela (m.54) converted for the Mexicans, while Stephen Gleeson (m.77) cashed for the Irishman coach Marti O’Neil .
The first half was dominated by Mexico who kept the ball in their feet almost all the time against a conforming rival.
Carlos Vela gave a good pass to Corona in the 11th minute and the striker failed in the first important arrival of the Mexicans who in 16 took advantage in a counterattack. Jorge Hernandez grabbed the defenders badly and put a serve to Corona, lethal with a right-footed cross to the 1-0.
Nine minutes later there was a foul in the area and Jiménez converted the penalty to increase the advantage and reflect in the marker the dominion of the box of Osorio.
For the second part the Mexicans returned to be dominant and in 54 they extended the difference through Vela; Striker Oribe Peralta fired in the goal, the ball bounced goalkeeper Darren Randolph and Vela recovered to send him to the door and sign the 3-0.
Friendly at last, the two teams made changes; The Mexicans seemed to relax, the Irish took note and in minute 77 gave their first blow. In an error of Oswaldo Alanís, the player of change Gleeson crossed over and defeated goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota.
Mexico missed the mark again in 81 but Cota appeared in time to save the door on an arrival of Callum O’Dowda.
The final minutes were of little activity for the goalkeepers and Mexico assured the triumph after to have fallen the previous Saturday before Croatia in his previous friendly game.
In the tie Mexico will face Honduras on June 8 and the United States, 11, confident of winning at Estadio Azteca to secure their passage to the World Cup. Ireland will meet Uruguay in a friendly on Saturday and 11 will play in Dublin against Austria in Group D of the tie in which it is second with 11 points, the same as the leader Serbia.
– Data sheet:
3. Mexico: Rodolfo Cota; Carlos Salcedo (Miguel Layún m.46), Diego Reyes, Hector Moreno (Oswaldo Alanís m.46), Jesus Gallardo; Jorge Hernández, Jonathan Dos Santos (Javier Aquino m.58), Héctor Herrera (Oribe Peralta m.46), Carlos Vela (Rafael Márquez m.68); Jesus Corona (Orbelín Pineda m.58), Raúl Jiménez. Coach: Juan Carlos Osorio.
1. Ireland: Darren Randolph; Shane Duffy, Richard Keogh, John Eagan (Kevin Long m.64), Cyrus Christie (Alan Browne m.73); Conor Hourihane (Eunan O’Kane m.64), Daryl Horgan (Stephen Gletson m 73), Callum O’Dowda, James Mclean; Darul Murphy (Wes Hoolahan m.64), David Mc Golorick. Coach: Martin O’Neill.
Goals: 1-0, m.16: Jesús Corona; 2-0, m.25: Raúl Jiménez; 3-0, m.54: Carlos Vela; 3-1, m.77: Stephen Gleeson.
Referee: Ted Unkel, United States. He admonished Carlos Salcedo, for Mexico, and James Mc Lean, for Ireland.
Incidents: Friendly match between Mexico and Ireland, held at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey prior to the June matches of both teams in the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
