Mexico City, Mexico – A spirited second half performance could not prevent the Golden Jaguars from going down 1-3 to CONCACAF champions Mexico on the opening day of Group B action in the third round, 2014 World Cup Qualifiers at the Estadio Azteca Stadium here yesterday.
Scoring the goals were Carlos Salcido (10th minute), Giovanni Dos Santos (14th minute), JP Rodriguez own goal via a Javier Hernandez flick in (50th minute) and another own goal awarded to Hector Moreno in the 60th minute off a deflected Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson shot.
The Jaguars stepped onto the world famous stadium to an electric atmosphere that was highlighted best by how the Mexicans in the crowd sang the national anthem in the stadium in a loud and emotional manner and the sight of home town hero Javier Hernandez kneeling and praying before kick-off.
In front of an almost capacity home crowd, which, according to the Mexican Football Association, reached almost 100,000, proceedings commenced with El Trico putting on a passing exhibition that would have made Barcelona proud.
The ultimate tiki-taka movement was on display as they strung together almost 30 passes in almost five minutes before Guyana touched the ball.
Mexico opened the scoring when a sharp left-wing cross by Andres Guadardo was not cleared sufficiently and left-back Carlos Salcido arriving in mid-field volleyed in the opener.
Soon it become 2-0 when some more world-class combination play from the Mexicans literally parted the Jaguars defense like the Red Sea, a defence that national coach Jamaal Shabazz had set very tight.
Firstly, right-winger Pablo Barrera flummoxed left-sided players Howard Newton and Walter Moore with some intricate close control. He than passed the ball to a mid-fielder who sent it to Hernandez who played an audacious back heel into path of Dos Santos who slammed his shot past the outstretched palm of Guyana’s goalkeeper Ronson Williams.
Things were certainly not going to plan for the Jaguars and with the deafening crowd screaming and booing every time they touched the ball, an avalanche of goals was feared.
However, the Jaguars gradually got better as the half progressed and got their best chance in the 43rd minute.
Mexico made their first passing mistake of the half, which striker Carl Cort, who had a wonderful game pounced on. He darted wide and sent a sharp cross into right-winger Ricky Shakes who ran into the box intelligently but headed wide of the mark.
When the second half resumed, coach Shabazz brought on Richardson for Howard Newton, with the intention of attacking after a first half in which he had instructed the team to be disciplined defensively.
But it was Mexico who continued to do the attacking when another Guadardo cross from the left wing was tucked home neatly by Hernandez and the crowd erupted to the approval of their star scorer on the night. This goal was later changed as aforementioned to an own goal.
The final 30 minutes of the game genuinely saw the Jaguars dominate as the Cort/Richardson combination made the Mexican defense work.
A third uncharacteristic mid-field mistake on the night by the Mexicans was finally finished off by the Jaguars.
Shakes flew forward from mid-field, passed wide to Richardson who ran left and his hard shot was deflected off Moreno and away from ‘keeper Jesus Corona to make it 3-1.
Shakes, who was the other outstanding Guyana player on the night, was again into the action as he sent a sharp right-wing cross which Cort volleyed superbly – but it smashed the top of the cross-bar to the agony of the Guyana technical staff.
Anthony Abrams and Dwight Peters were the other substitutes brought on and they continued the modus operandi of attack in the final minutes, where in summary if Guyana was more clinical a 3-2 or 3-3 draw was a strong possibility.
The Mexico defense was without their regular captain and experienced defender Rafael Marquez and they seemed to lose their defensive shape as the Jaguars attacked in the latter stages.
Guyana can take much heart from this performance as they will next host the other CONCACAF giant in the group Costa Rica in their second Group B encounter at the Providence Stadium on Tuesday.
Guyana: Ronson Williams, Jake Newton, Leon Cort, John Paul Rodrigues, Walter Moore, Ricky Shakes (Dwight Peters – 71st), Chris Nurse (captain), Kester Jacobs, Howard Newton (Gregory Richardson – 46th) , Kayode McKinnon and Carl Cor (Anthony Abrams – 80th).
Cautions: Chris Nurse – 24th minute
Mexico (formation: 4-3-1-2): Jesus Corona, Severo Meza, Javier Rodriguez (captain), Hector Moreno, Carlos Salcido, Jesus Zavala, Andres Guadardo, Pablo Barrera, Giovanni Dos Santos (Angel Reyna – 60th) , Aldo De Nigris (Alfredo Talavera – 80th minute), Javier Hernandez.
