MEXICO
Mexico prepare for Nations League semi-final clash vs USA with win over Guatemala
The new Mexico national team manager Diego Cocca remains unbeaten in his position after El Tri overcame Guatemala in a friendly staged in Mazatlán, Sinaloa.
Diego Cocca now boasts a record of four unbeaten games in charge of ‘El Tri’ and has overseen with two wins and two draws in his time on the bench. Mexico recorded a 2-0 win over Guatemala at the Kraken Stadium in Mazatlán on Wednesday night as they now focus on the final test ahead of the Gold Cup as they face Cameroon on Saturday in San Diego.
The Guatemalan side set up with a defensive approach but their game plan was soon undone as Raúl Jiménez converted from the spot to open the scoring in the 14th minute following a handball in the box.
Mexico continued to dominate possession and were forced to use both flanks as the only way to penetrate the well drilled Guatemala defensive line.
Just as it seemed that one goal would decide the contest, a loose ball in the box was pounced upon by Roberto de la Rosa who slotted past the wall of navy shirts to double Mexico’s advantage.
El Tri now head north of the border with the next test coming up against Cameroon in San Diego (United States) which will serve as the final test for Cocca’s side ahead of the Nations League Final Four.
Mexico are pitted against the USMNT in the semi-final of the Concacaf Nations League with a place in the final against the winner of Canada-Panama on the line. A busy summer for El Tri continues with the July Concacaf Gold Cup with Mexico pitted against Honduras, Haiti and Qatar in the group stage.
- Luis Malagón (45')
- 2 Néstor Araújo
- 26 Kevin Álvarez
- Víctor Guzmán
- 25 Roberto Alvarado (55')
- Israel Reyes (71')
- Jonathan Herrera (71')
- 8 Carlos Rodríguez (55')
- Alan Cervantes
- Erick Sanchez
- 9 Raúl Jiménez (71')
- Substitutes
- Roberto Carlos de la Rosa (71')
- Toño Rodríguez (45')
- 21 Carlos Antuna (55')
- 20 Henry Martin
- 23 Jesús Gallardo
- Salvador Reyes (71')
- 24 Luis Chavez (55')
- Gilberto Sepúlveda (71')
- Diego Lainez
- 7 Luis Romo
- Carlos Acevedo
- 1 Nicholas Hagen
- 22 José Morales
- 4 José Pinto
- Nicolas Samayoa
- Antonio López (65')
- 18 Carlos Mejía (76')
- Rodrigo Saravia
- 6 Óscar Castellanos
- 10 Alejandro Galindo (76')
- Substitutes
- Pedro Altán (76')
- 23 Jorge Aparicio (65')
- 13 Stheven Robles (76')
- 18 Óscar Santis
- Anderson Ortiz
- 20 Gerardo Gordillo
- Fredy Pérez
Substitutions
Antonio Rodríguez (45', Luis Malagón), Luis Chávez (55', Roberto Alvarado), Uriel Antuna (55', Carlos Rodríguez), Jorge Aparicio (65', Antonio López), Roberto de la Rosa (71', Raúl Jiménez), Gilberto Sepúlveda (71', Israel Reyes), Salvador Reyes (71', Ozziel Herrera), Stheven Robles (76', Carlos Mejía), Pedro Altán (76', Alejandro Galindo)
Goals
1-0, 13': Raúl Jiménez, 2-0, 79': Roberto Carlos de la Rosa
Cards
Referee: Nelson Salgado
Rodrigo Saravia (62',Yellow)