Carlos Vela On Target For Mexico Against Belize

After two warm up friendlies against Argentina and Peru, Carlos Vela and his Mexican team started their qualification campaign for the World Cup in 2010 this evening. The game was the first of a double header against the less fancied Belize, who were ranked as one of the poorest quality sides in the CONCACAF division. In contrast Mexico were number one, and a large crowed had gathered in Texas, with a heavy win the expectation.

New manager Sven-Göran Eriksson was watching on, as care-taker boss Jesus Ramirez kept faith with the inform Vela in a second striker role, playing just behind Enrique. The creative Naelson was also handed a start, but there was no place in the squad for Tottenham’s Giovanni Dos Santos.

The Mexicans went straight for the kill in their last fixture against Peru with devastating consequences, and they adopted the same princeable in this game. The silky passing football was certainly impressive in the early stages, but Belize showed they would be no push overs and defended with pride.

The first big chance of the game came from Guardado’s stunning corner, the ball found an unmarked Vela who failed to keep his composure and wasted his shot. The Mexicans found creating opportunities extremely difficult, with 7 or 8 players always behind the ball whenever they attacked.

They were now being restricted to long range attempts, with Torrado and Naelson smashing several efforts high into the stand. Vela would then be involved in the best chance of the match so far, as he skipped around the back line, before slotting the ball across the goal, only to see his strike partner Enrique have his tame shot saved.

Carlos was working hard as the link man between the front line and the midfield, but found life difficult with the amount of bodies in front and around him. But his team mates were more than happy to give him the ball, knowing he would be one of the biggest chances of the opener coming.

Belize used a powerful, defensive, and aggressive stance to outwit their opponents, and with half time approaching it was certainly working. Most of the Mexican fans were left frustrated at the lack of a final ball, and one of the biggest shocks of the competition so far was on the cards. The half time whistle blew, with the players leaving the field to a mixture of cheers for Belize, and whistles for Vela and his team mates.

Half Time – Belize 0-0 Mexico

With a slight adjustment in midfield at half time, Mexico were ready to go and get the illusive first goal. After a lovely spell of possession, Guardado flicked the ball through to Vela, who latched onto it quickly, he tried to clip an effort back for the arriving Enrique, only to see it cleared.

This fired them up, and they really should have taken the lead as Belize were stretched for the first time in the game. Naelson worked an opening on the edge of the box, and his low drive was parried by the keeper. Carlos Vela reacted first, but as he stabbed out a foot, the recovering stopper just did enough to put him off.

Much better play for the Mexicans but still no goal, this was on the verge of becoming a massive upset. It would take a little bit of quality to unlock the door, and when Vela played a clever little flick to Guardado it seemed this could be it. But the Deportivo man went crashing down with minimum contact, and was subsequently booked.

Belize were not just here to defend, and when substitute Simpson won a corner down the other end, the stadium turned to applause from the home fans. The ball in was incredibly poor, and Mexico sensed a chance to score from the break away. Naelson found Vela on the left wing, he danced past two players with electric speed before being tripped to the floor.

Then followed two corners for Mexico, but yet again both were cleared with apparent ease. With no goals on the hour mark, the previous bouncing atmosphere had died away, with disbelief all around the stadium.

Yet more corners would follow, after good play on the left wing from Guardado and substitute Villaluz, before a free kick on the edge of the box was given. Luis Perez saw his dipped effort tipped onto the bar, only for Vela to tap home from a yard out. Predatory insists from Carlos who was mobbed by his team mates, his third goal for his country, and two in as many matches.

It had taken 67 minutes to come, but finally Mexico had the reward for their hard work. Would they now sit back and take this result heading into the second leg?, or push for the second and finish the encounter?, the final 25 minutes would decide.

There is one thing i have never seen Vela do in a match, and that is score two. He nearly put that right, as Perez’s right wing cross picked out the Arsenal forward, he glanced the ball back where it came from, and with the keeper beaten he turned to celebrate. But he looked back only to see a Belize defender scramble it off the line.

On 77 minutes and with the game drawing to a close, Carlos Vela was replaced with the Mexican all time leading goalscorer Jared Borgetti. The fixture would end in controversy following a corner kick, as the referee pointed to the penalty spot for an unknown reason. Borgetti stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way, doubling the advantage. 2-0 was harsh on Belize, but with the second leg in midweek, Mexico are in the driving seat to go through.

Goals

Carlos Vela (67)
Jared Borgetti (91)

Article By – J.Sanderson

~ by J.Sanderson on June 15, 2008.