Posted on 10/12/2013 10:47:30 AM PDT by BeadCounter
(AP) -- Mexico needed a spectacular Raul Jimenez goal in the 85th minute to beat Panama 2-1 on Friday and revive its hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.
The result moved Mexico into fourth place in CONCACAF qualifying, three points ahead of Panama and three points behind third-placed Honduras with one game to play.
The top three teams qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the fourth team faces an intercontinental playoff against New Zealand.
In the last round of games, Honduras is away to already-eliminated Jamaica and needs only a draw to secure a World Cup berth, while Mexico is away to Costa Rica and Panama hosts the United States. Both Costa Rica and the U.S. have already qualified for Brazil 2014.
Mexico went ahead in the 40th minute through Oribe Peralta's goal off a pass from Javier Hernandez, who missed a chance to double that lead from the penalty spot in the 58th.
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
Mexico is probably going to beat NZ 10-0 on aggregate. But still, we can dream.
Didn’t show until 90+ minutes then. Added Extra time for those who don’t know.
As it is, maybe not 10-0, but definitely a convincing Mexico win in the Azteca, and a draw or 1-0 Mexico win in NZ.
Ze Coach is Ze German Klinsmann, he runs the team.
The US tied the game 1-1 in the first half. How is that “not showing”?
@KyleBeckerman tells me Panamanian players were begging US to take it easy on the field. "I (Beckerman) told them I got to play hard to get to Brazil."
Even if that is so, the integrity would seem to come down to our German manager.
For the record, the USA did not tie it until the 64th minute.
Costa Rica apparently put out a full effort against Mexico last night so it would seem they showed integrity. Yes, we could make the argument, CR was helping their central American neighbors in Panama.
Well if that’s the case, then I am glad the US won.
Panama also had their chance to put away Mexico last week....But to be fair, it took the Goal of the Year for Mexico to win that game.
Between that goal and the late game heroics of the US vs Panama, it’s like the soccer gods really want Mexico in the WC.
Yep, there was that feeling of inevitability, even in the 90th minute that somehow Mexico was going to escape.
Berlin_Freeper came up with a classic line last night after the game:
“America can just never keep the Mexicans out.”
From this article, http://int.soccerway.com/news/2013/October/17/klinsmann-feels-for-panama/n242547/ sounds like Panama badly mismanaged the end of the game. What do they say? Park the Bus.
2 legs in November, I’d give New Zealand a chance. NZ wasn’t that poor at the last World Cup but I do see Mexico beat them in a friendly in Mexico in June 2011, 3-0.
The thing is, we know Mexico is good but as long as they don’t have their act together, they are not a good team.
On Bob Bradley and the Pharoahs getting walloped by Ghana 6-1:
“But it is understood Bradley may not take charge of November’s second leg in Cairo because of fears over his safety.
Airport security was increased for the team’s return from Ghana and many fans were angered by the humiliating result.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24552993
Another snippet:
” In the last two days, the police and the army have clashed with with Ahly Ultras, a fans’ group who tried to attack the Ahly handball team after they were beaten to the gold medal in the Champions Handball League by a Tunisian side.
Last week, Ghana wrote to Fifa to ask for the second leg tie to be moved from Egypt because of safety fears and Fifa has given the Egyptian FA until 28 October to provide security guarantees. “
No place to be in Egypt now for an American like Bob Bradley. In civilized times, maybe.
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