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Mexico cruises past New Zealand in first leg playoff to move closer to World Cup

OribePeraltaMexico1-NewZealand (Mexsport)

By FRANCO PANIZO

It would take a world-class collapse for Mexico to mess this one up.

Mexico saw its dreams of reaching the 2014 World Cup become a bit more like reality on Wednesday, as it dismantled New Zealand, 5-1, in the first leg of their playoff series at Estadio Azteca. Oribe Peralta led the way for the Mexicans with a brace while Rafa Marquez, Paul Aguilar and Raul Jimenez each added a goal of their own.

El Tri were rarely ever threatened by New Zealand over the course of the 90 minutes in Mexico, but it took until after the half-hour mark for the hosts to break through. Aguilar scored the opener in the match in the 32nd minute, inspiring enough confidence in Mexico to score the eventual winner eight minutes later through Jimenez.

The lone blunder for Mexico came after they had scored all of their goals. A minute after Marquez capped the scoring for El Tri, Chris James pulled one back for the All Whites to give them a sliver of hope ahead of the decisive leg at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Nov. 20.

What do you think of the Mexico’s 5-1 victory over New Zealand? Surprised by how dominant El Tri were? Still blaming Graham Zusi for scoring that goal vs. Panama last month?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. As much as I despise the Mexican footballing nation, it is better for the CONCACAF region if they qualify (AND DO WELL) in the World Cup. So, I hope the 2nd leg ends 5-1 to New Zealand in regulation, making Mexico sweat until the final penalty kick, when they score and qualify.

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  2. In the long run, a Mexico rout and qualification to yet another WC, could actually harm El Tri. No, I am not on drugs. Qualification would confirm to Mexicans that the status quo is fine, and no long term changes are necessary. OTOH, had NZ won and qualified, I guarantee that major changes would have taken place w/in Mexican football but they don’t have to worry about that scenario at least for another four years.

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  3. Since we managed 0-0 away it does make you wonder what whole chunks of the world would do if they had to qualify through the Concacaf qualifying and make the Azteca trip. They were in the 2010 tournament……

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  4. Hmmmmmmmmm, you mean something like

    2009 – Mexico 5 – USA 0 Gold Cup
    2011 – Mexico 4 – USA 2 Gold Cup, after being down 2 – 0?

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  5. Piojo Herrera is a nutbar. He is goofier looking than Bruce Arena. The Mexican side thinks they won the WC by beating a very very poor side. Yeah, Mexican fan are crazy. I heard one nut on Mexico saying that Mexico will now beat the big fishes in the World stage WWWHHHHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! LLLLOOOOOLLLLL!!! I am still laughing at that one. This Mexican side really sucks. I can’t wait until the December draw and laugh my tail off when they get stuck with murderous group. The U.S. will rise; they have depth and are a very good team that will make it out of their group. I don’t care what group they are in. They are twice the team Mexico is, dos a cero proves it. The U.S. would have beaten New Zealand 8-0.

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    • November 14, 2013 at 1:48 AM

      Hmmmmmmmmm, you mean something like

      2009 – Mexico 5 – USA 0 Gold Cup
      2011 – Mexico 4 – USA 2 Gold Cup, after being down 2 – 0?

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      • Adam, you seem to be living in the past. We are talking about the current Mexico team here. The one that BARELY qualified for the playoff spot against NZ. Oh, yeah, if it wasn’t for the USA getting two late goals against Panama, Panama would have been in that game.

    • Of course after both games and this World Cup is going to be amazing, I’m saying Argentina or Brazil take it, with USA, Mexico, Uruguay being very very dark horses.
      I think Italy, Spain and the European powerhouse won’t take the Souhth American fan pressure, because no one will cheer for them and it will be hostile for sure in Brazil.

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      • Yep, how will they ever survive in the dead of Winter? (Although, I don’t know what Winter tempatures are like in Brasil, It is a big country, so I am assuming some of the locations could be fairly warm, but I doubt they will be much hotter than Summer in Spain).

      • Hmmm. well !-puto** as an instult it is a little more nuanced than that.
        Yes, if you ask me what !-puto**means I would say “fa**ot”. If you ask me what puta means I would say “whore” but it is also used more like a strong insult akin to “you mo*** fu***r”, I don’t really think that you have relations with your mom but I am insulting you nonetheless. If for example I call you a “pinche puto” I am insulting you pretty strongly. If I call you **puto** it is more like a type of coward (with a stronger word that doesn’t exist in English)..hmmm. why do I bother.

  6. Discard Mexico at your own risk. A confident Mexico with all its current and up and coming talent is and will be a World Cup darkhorse. They had a terrible 2013 but nations go through some of these lulls. Laugh at your own risk.

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    • Despite the opponent being NZL, and MEX playing at 7200′ elevation, I thought that Mexico looked very smooth in attack, and very fit. This side is a true team. The question is–can the Euro based players fit in, and still be dangerous. It was smart not to use out of form players.

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      • LLLOLLLLLL!!!!!! Now that is funny!!!!!!!! Defeating a side less ranked than the Dominican Republic is nothing to brag about LLOOOLLL. You must be smoking better stuff that me. Mexico just simply sucks. Mexico is a three and out side in the World Cup 2014 even with a dream draw.

      • Mexico did what they had to do but you really can’t take anymore away from it then the US Gold Cup team beating sides like Cuba and El Salvador in similar fashion. New Zealand is that same class of teams. At 79th in FIFA ranking, puts them 5 behind Cuba just ahead of Haiti.

    • Confident??? They suck about as much as that fat little Piojo. New Zealand is a terrible side. Now the Mexican wannabees comes out of the woodwork with a win over a small fish like New Zealand. Gives me a friggen break. One more win and you wannabees are going to think you are going to win the Wold Cup. There are even goofs saying that they (Mexico) are the KIngs of CONCACAF again LLOOOLLLLLL! WWWIOOOOO LOOOOLLLL!!

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    • Darkhorse?????? Are you on drugs, man? How arrogant are you Wannabee Mexicans? One win against a suck team and now Mexico is a darkhorse in the WC. LLLLOOOOOOLLLLLLL! Incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just incredible!!!!!!!!!!!You must think they will have Granada, Belize and Guam in their group.

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  7. Wow, you would think that a nation that beat powerhouses like New Caldonia, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands would have put up more of a fight.

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  8. Why do I have the sinking feeling that Mexico is going to get a group of something like Switzerland/Greece/Algeria and the US is going to get Spain/Italy/Ghana in the WC?

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  9. Wow, if El Tri can thrash the Oceania heavyweight New Zealand, I can’t imagine what sort of dread grips other soccer powerhouses who might face Mexico in the World Cup; e.g., Jordan, Senegal, Iceland. No one is safe. No one.

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  10. i like that this player from club america came to the rescue good for that group they earned it in such an important game but i dont think that mexico played that great to be honest, it was more new zealands errors and hesitation that made it seem like that. you could tell that new zealand had more to them than what they displayed specially towards the end of the game, i think it was more the tactics of the coach that failed them this time around. i say they win at home.

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    • I gave up when it was 4-0, but the Kiwis were listless. Only some good play by the keeper kept this from being a 7 or 8 goal game for El Tri. No Winston Reed hurt, especially on set pieces. IMO the best chance for NZ came on the free kick in the 9th minute that they headed wide. Reed might have managed a shot on goal.

      It really looked like NZ played not to lose and were in damage control mode even when the game was still scoreless.

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  11. I’m actually rooting for most of this team (minus Rafa). Giving new players a chance to show the dedication/heart that some of the regulars were lacking. Also, the new coach is hilarious – could be fun to see him in Brazil.

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  12. It’s nice to see a CONCACAF minnow like Mexico rip up a mildly respectable nation like New Zealand. Really shows the region is getting stronger and stronger!

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