| | |  News Around the Republic of Mexico 
Mexico Beats Chile 1-0 in Warm-Up for World Cup
 Carlos Rodriguez - Associated Press
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May 16, 2010
| | Francisco Rodriguez (L) of Mexico vies for the ball with Matias Fernandez of Chile during their friendly footbal match before their departure for South Africa for the WC 2010 at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City. Alberto Medina scored a first half goal to give Mexico a 1-0 win over Chile. (AFP/Omar Torres) | |
Mexico City — Alberto Medina scored in the first half Sunday to give Mexico a 1-0 win over Chile in its last warm-up match at home before heading to Europe to prepare for the World Cup.
Medina took a pass from veteran playmaker Cuauhtemoc Blanco and hit a left-footed shot on the turn past Marin in the 14th minute to give Mexico its sixth win in eight unbeaten games this year. Mexico has not conceded a goal in seven of those matches.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre fielded a strong team, spearheaded by new Manchester United signing Javier Hernandez and Blanco.
Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa selected a more experimental lineup, including fringe players such as goalkeeper Luis Marin and forward Jaime Valdez.
Aguirre lamented not scoring more goals, acknowledging it may be a problem.
“I think we’re headed in the right direction, but we have to fine tune,” he said. “Everyone would like to win 8-0 or 6-0, but it’s not always possible. The important thing is we are generating chances. We had 10 or 12. We need to improve our percentage. We did enough today to win 2-0 or 3-0.”
Both coaches have until the FIFA deadline of June 1 to announce their final 23-man squads for the tournament in South Africa.
“El Tri”—as the Mexican side is called—will travel to Europe on Tuesday to play four more warmup games against England, Netherlands, Gambia and Italy before kicking off the World Cup on June 11 against host South Africa.
North Korea was the only team to score against Mexico, on March 17. Since then, the defense has been reinforced further still after PSV Eindhoven defenders Carlos Salcido and Francisco Rodriguez, plus Stuttgart’s Ricardo Osorio joined up with the squad.
Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez is among the remaining players to link up with squad in Europe.
The defeat was Chile’s first in its World Cup preparations. Bielsa’s team will move on to play Northern Ireland, Israel and New Zealand before its first match in South Africa against Honduras on June 16.
Mexico dominated possession against a disjointed Chile side, with Efrain Juarez’s long-range shot deflected off target in the 11th minute.
The goal came soon after, when Blanco cut in from the left and fed Medina to score with a low shot.
Mexico could have extended its lead soon after when Paul Aguilar advanced down the right flank and laid the ball off to Medina, but his cross to the back post was scooped over the bar by Hernandez.
Chile’s first opportunity came in the 25th minute when goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa dealt comfortably with a strike from 20 yards out by Jorge Valdivia.
The Chilean side improved after the break. Halftime substitute Jean Beausejour—who plays in Azteca stadium with Mexican club America—burst through shortly after entering the fray, but his clubmate Ochoa stuck out a leg and diverted the shot wide.
Chile was reduced to 10 men in the 60th minute when Manuel Iturra was sent off for a foul challenge from behind on the halfway line that caused Andres Guardado to leave the pitch as a precaution against injury.
Boosted by the extra man, Mexico finished strongly. Efrain Juarez released Hernandez in the 63rd minute, but the Manchester United recruit lost his balance and could only hit the post after rounding Marin.
Substitute striker Adolfo Bautista had Mexico’s final chance, but Marin blocked his shot from close range in the dying minutes of the match.
Mexico: Guillermo Ochoa, Paul Aguilar, Ricardo Osorio, Francisco Rodriguez (Hector Moreno, 69), Carlos Salcido, Gerardo Torrado, Efrain Juarez, Andres Guardado (Adolfo Bautista, 63), Javier Hernandez, Alberto Medina (Carlos Vela, 55) and Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Pablo Barrera, 55).
Chile: Luis Marin, Arturo Vidal, Waldo Ponce, Ismael Fuentes, Roberto Cereceda (Jean Beausejour, 46), Jose Fuenzalida (Francisco Castro, 75), Rodrigo Millar, Matias Fernandez, Pedro Morales (Manuel Iturra, 58), Jorge Valdivia and Jaime Valdes (Gonzalo Jara, 46).
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