Argentina thrash Mexico
June 6, 2008
Argentina thrash Mexico
AP, SAN DIEGO (CALIFORNIA)
June 5: Sven-Goran Eriksson would seem to have much work ahead of him as the new Mexico coach after viewing a lopsided loss to Argentina in the first game since he was hired.
Maximiliano Rodriguez scored the last of three unanswered goals in the first 30 minutes, as Argentina took control against Mexico on the way to a 4-1 victory on Wednesday night.
Eriksson, who was hired as the team’s new coach on Tuesday, watched from the stands while interim coach Jesus Ramirez continued a five-game tenure that lasts through June 21.
“The difference between Argentina and Mexico was the opportunities that that they had,” said Mexico midfielder Antonio Naelson, who had his team’s only goal in the second half. “They created, and we didn’t.”
Argentina’s early outburst, which also included goals by Nicolas Burdisso and Lionel Messi, came before a record San Diego soccer crowd of 68,498 at Qualcomm Stadium to watch the tuneup for World Cup qualifiers.
“There’s a basic lesson that we got” Naelson said. “We can be a more complete team if we play together.”
Naelson accounted for Mexico’s score in the 62nd minute, and Argentina’s Sergio Aguero answered with a goal in the 71st minute.
“The score doesn’t reflect the level of play of Mexico and Argentina,” Ramirez said. “The different factor was the quality of forwards. We need to learn both offensively and defensively.”
Ramirez indicated that he would be open to staying as an assistant coach with the national team. “When this is finished, we will talk with the national federation to make a decision,” Ramirez said. “Maybe later I will analyse, but for now, my thinking is right here.”
Rodriguez, who scored an overtime goal to beat Mexico in the second round of the 2006 World Cup, scored from the edge of the goal on a deflection off a defender. Argentina opened the scoring in the 11th minute on Burdisso’s shot past goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez. Messi added the second score on a close-range attempt seven minutes later.
Goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri made three saves for Argentina, and Sanchez had two.
Mexico’s Carlos Vela missed out on a scoring chance in the seventh minute when he dribbled past two defenders but missed wide on a bouncing crossing shot.
Argentina improved to 5-1-2 over Mexico in this decade, including a 3-0 semifinal win in the 2007 Copa America. Overall, Argentina leads the series 11-4-11.
(The Independent)
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