Showing posts with label Mexico Soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mexico Soccer. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Soccer-US keep World Cup hopes alive, Mexico take control


USA vs. Mexico Highlights | CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying

March 29 (Reuters) - The United States remain in contention for a spot at next year"s World Cup after Bruce Arena"s side battled to a scrappy 1-1 away draw against Panama in CONCACAF qualifying on Tuesday.

A loss would have left the U.S. anchored equal bottom in the six-team group known as the Hexagonal, but the draw sends them home relieved and still in contention for one of the three automatic spots to Russia 2018.

Mexico extended their lead to three points atop the group with a 1-0 away win over Trinidad and Tobago, a second-half goal by Diego Reyes in Port of Spain lifting El Tri to 10 points from four games.

Costa Rica are second on seven points after a 1-1 away draw at Honduras, followed by Panama on five points, the U.S. and the Hondurans on four, while Trinidad have three points.

In Panama City, teenager Christian Pulisic set up striker Clint Dempsey for his 56th international goal as the U.S. took the lead in the 39th minute.

But Panama were on equal terms four minutes later when the American defence failed to deal with a long throw-in, the ball bobbling to Gabriel Gomez, who fired home from close range.

After the match, U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard considered the result as one point gained rather than two points lost.

"We didn"t tie the game, we won a dogfight," he said in a pitch-side interview. "It"s tough away from home in qualifying. We had to get a point."

As for the physical nature of the contest, Howard did not mince his words.

"If you watch the game you would shake your head. It"s what we"ve come to expect away from home with all the elements. We"re always swimming upstream away from home.

"They"re a physical team. This is probably the most athletic team in CONCACAF so it"s hard to match them but I thought we did a good job."

Arena, who took over after the Americans lost the first two games of their qualifying campaign under Jurgen Klinsmann, was happy with the result, if not the officiating.

"The referee didn"t blow his whistle too much," he said wryly, while conceding mexico were now likely to win the group.

Mexico rode their luck against Trinidad, who felt aggrieved after a slick first half effort by Joevin Jones was disallowed for offside, though replays appeared to show he had timed his run to perfection.

The visitors had the better of the second half, with Hector Herrera hitting the post with a curling 20-yard shot, before defender Reyes powered home a header from a corner in the 58th minute.

"We knew it would be difficult... but in the second half we found the spaces and I think we deserved the victory in the end," defender Hector Moreno said.

In San Pedro Sula, Honduras bounced back from a 6-0 drubbing against the U.S. last week by sharing the spoils with Costa Rica.

Anthony Lozano bundled the ball home to give Honduras a first-half lead, before Costa Rica equalised in the second half with a Kendall Watson header. (Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by John O"Brien)

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/soccer-u-s-keep-world-cup-hopes-alive-mexico-take-control/articleshow/57887429.cms

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Mexico Soccer 2017: TV Channel, Schedule, Prediction, Probable Lineups For WCQ vs. Costa Rica


America"s soccer migrants: the US footballers crossing Mexico"s border

The two top teams in the CONCACAF hexagonal meet on friday night, when mexico hosts Costa Rica at Estadio Aztecain a World Cup qualifying match. In what is expected to remain a competitive qualifying group, Costa Rica has won both their matches, while Mexico is tied for second place with a win and a draw.

El Tri will be without some key players in a key matchup leading up to Russia 2018. Versatile midfielder Andres Guardado, perhaps the squad"s most valuable player, is out with a leg injury.Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio will also be without the services of Giovani dos Santos, Jesus "Tecatito" Corona, Hirving Lozano and Marco Fabian.

But Osorio has plenty of depth for his 3-4-3 lineup. Jonathan dos Santos is expected to get the nod in midfield to fill in for Guardado. Orbelin Pineda, a 20-year-old midfielder who has featured for Chivas, may see plenty of action, as well.

For Oscar Ramirez"s Costa Rica squad, center back Oscar Duarte, who plays for Espanyol, issidelined with a knee injury.

Also missing for Costa Rica might some of their fans. According to a report, 300 Ticos were stranded at Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose. The Azteca crowd is among the most intimidating in the world, but Costa Rica is still optimistic they can get can get two road wins with a match also looming against Honduras next week.

"Our mentality is always to go out to win," winger Christian Bolanos said. "We believe that we can get the six points. We have to think like that if we want to continue in the search for qualifying. We know the quality of the two opponents. It will not be easy, but we will be betting on doing our job well and playing smart matches."

The last time Mexico hosted Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifying match was in June 2013. The matched ended 0-0.

Mexico Probable Lineup

G: Ochoa

D: Araujo, Marquez, Moreno

M: Damm, Herrera, J. Dos Santos, Pineda

F: Vela, J. Hernandez, Jimenez

Costa Rica Probable Lineup

G: Navas

D: Acosta, Umana, Watson, Matarrita

M: Salvatierra, Azofeifa, Borges, Bolanos

F: Ruiz, Campbell

Start Time: 8:50 p.m. ET

TV Channel: FS1 and Univision Deportes

Prediction: Mexico defeats Costa Rica, 2-0

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/mexico-soccer-2017-tv-channel-schedule-prediction-probable-lineups-wcq-vs-costa-rica-2514883

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