By David Blye
Looking at the scoresheet, it may have seemed that Mexico’s 3-0 win over Congo was a one-sided affair. While Congo was the losing side, the scoreboard did not reflect the play.
After conceding an early penalty and being reduced to 10 men, the valiant Congolese refused to give up against the more talented Mexicanos. Congo’s head coach Eddie Hudanski expressed satisfaction with his squad, in spite of its elimination.
“I’m very proud of our team,” Hudanski said.
“Having been with the team since 2005, it’s quite a distance we’ve traveled. In 2005, some of these players had never before been in a competition and now they’ve seen the real face of football.”
Early on Mexico dominated in possession and chances, highlighted by a strike from midfielder Cesar Villaluz that was only stopped by a brilliant save from Congolese goalkeeper Destin Onka.
But Onka’s theatrics could only take them so far. In the 22nd minute, Mexican defender Efrain Juarez was brought down in the danger area. Star striker (a Barcelona asset) Giovanni dos Santos made no mistake on the penalty kick. The Mexicans went up 1-0.
After the opening goal, however, Mexico seemed content to hang back and sit on its lead.
The tactic nearly cost the Mexicans. Congo striker, Fabrice Nguessi, managed a few strong chances on goal that were only stopped by the antics of keeper Alfonso Blanco. Mexico narrowly escaped the first half with the one goal lead.
Soon after the restart, Congo forward Franchel Ibara received his second yellow card, reducing his side to 10 men. Instead of playing a more defensive strategy, Hudanski opted to throw caution to the wind, ordering his side to continue pushing forward and pressed the issue by bringing in a full compliment of strikers to flesh out his reduced lineup.
“They played with 10 just like I had asked them to at the half, when they still had 11,” Hudanski said. “It freed them up and allowed them to play football as they should.”
Unfortunately, despite numerous chances Congo was never able to earn an equalizer and Mexico made them pay. In the 85th minute, the Latin American side outran its undermanned African counterparts on a counterattack. Midfielder Omar Esparaza went unmarked on the run and easy slotted a Villaluz through ball into the back of the net. Substitute Pablo Barrera would add an insurance marker in extra time, but then it was already over.
For his part, Mexican head coach Jesus Ramirez praised both his players and their opponents.
“We certainly played against an excellent team,” Ramirez said. “But, my team did come out strong in the end. We were certainly very happy with the three goals and the result. Our strength is in our team. We do have some strong individuals but it’s our team play that makes us stronger.”
The win sends Mexico on to the quarter-finals where it will challenge the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup winners from Argentina. While the match puts two of the top squads in the field, Ramirez is looking forward to the encounter.
“We’ll play [Argentina] with the same intensity as we have all the other teams,” Ramirez said. “Of course our goal is to advance, to move forward and that’s what we’ll do.”
Mexico will challenge the Argentineans on July 15, from Frank Clair Stadium, in Ottawa.
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