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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Jul 2007 : 08:15:59
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Dos Santos shines as Mexico downs Gambia 3-0 at FIFA U-20 World Cup NEIL DAVIDSON
Mon Jul 2, 8:40 PM ET
TORONTO (CP) - Nerves and a surprisingly strong Gambia side made for an anxious start to the FIFA U-20 World Cup for highly touted Mexico on Monday.
But the Mexicans settled down and began to impose their will in the second half, finally beating Gambia goalkeeper Joseph Gomez in the 57th minute en route to a 3-0 win over the Baby Scorpions.
"We started badly but later on we improved. We improved in our possession of the ball and we played as planned," Mexico coach Jesus Ramirez said through an interpreter.
"During the first half, we suffered from nerves," he added. "It's a World Cup and obviously starting a World Cup, this is normal."
The Group C game was a wide-open, entertaining affair with the skill and technique of the Mexicans pitted against the flair and athleticism of the Gambians, who played better than the score would indicate.
Coupled with Portugal's 2-0 win over New Zealand earlier in the day, Monday's action at a soldout BMO Field - dubbed the National Soccer Stadium during the tournament because of sponsorship issues - served to set up Thursday's showdown between Mexico and Portugal.
Mexico came in with high expectations, having won the under-17 world title two years ago in Peru. But the Scorpions, making their debut at the under-20 championship, were not in awe and pushed the Mexicans.
"It is a disappointing result. We lost," said Gambia coach Peter Johnson. "They punished us on our mistakes."
Johnson said his team lost concentration in the middle of the field in the second half and paid for it.
Both teams had their chances but neither converted until star Mexico forward Giovani Dos Santos - who is signed to Spain's Barcelona - broke the deadlock in the 57th minute on a beautiful individual effort, tracking a poor defensive header and then beating a Gambian defender to the ball before looping a powerful left-footed volley over goalkeeper Joseph Gomez.
The Mexicans made it 2-0 in the 67th minute after an amazing sequence in which Mexico hit the bar, forced a diving save from Gomez, and had a shot cleared off the line by a defender before Hector Moreno finally banged the ball in.
Gambia began to lose its shape and substitute Javier Hernandez increased the lead to 3-0 in the 89th minute, getting behind a defender after taking a long pass and then going around the onrushing goalie before slotting the ball home.
Mexico had 57 per cent of the possession in the first half but was outshot 10-6 (5-1 in shots on target) by the Africans. The Mexicans began to flex their muscle in the second half, however, and stretch the Gambia defence.
Mexico outshot Gambia 12-4 (9-0 in shots on target) in the second half and finished the game with 52 per cent possession.
"Gambia are a very good team and we knew about it before the game," said Ramirez.
Gambia almost went ahead early on when an 11th-minute header by Pa Modou Jagne flashed off the post and bounced across the face of the goal. The Mexicans lived dangerously again in the 19th minute when the defence failed to corral a high ball that bounced wide.
But Dos Santos showed his class in the 21st minute, taking a nice pass from Efrain Juarez, cutting past a defender and slamming a left-footed shot just wide of the post. Minutes later, a header by Jorge Hernandez flashed wide.
In the 27th minute, the Gambia goalkeeper got a corner all wrong and the ensuing Mexican header had to be cleared off the line by defender Pierre Gomez. Mexico had another chance in the 30th courtesy of Cesar Villaluz, who turned and shot wide after pouncing on the ball in the box.
Gambia replied in the 39th minute with a diving header from Ousman Jallow that was caught by Mexican 'keeper Alfonso Blanco.
Blanco had to be sharp in the 41st, reaching high to push over a long-range rocket from Alagie Ngum. Minutes later, Jagne lashed a left-footed shot in injury time that Blanco dove to steer wide.
Johnson took solace from the scene in the dressing room after the game with his players showing confidence despite the loss, telling each other: "If we can give Mexico such a tough run then we make it with other teams because Mexico is one of the favourites."
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