Email Gambia News to a friend
Print version
Comment on This Gambia News

Gambia: Mexico downs Gambia 3-0

Mexico and Gambia put on a show at the FIFA U-20 World Cup on Monday before the Mexicans finally dispatched the valiant Scorpions 3-0 on the strength of three second-half goals.

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.

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.

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.

Dos Santos came out in the 85th minute to a rousing ovation.

Gambia almost went ahead in the 11th minute when a 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.

In the 44th, it was Mexico's turn as Carlos Vela curled a left-footer that just went over the crossbar. Jagne hit back for Gambia, lashing a left-footed shot in injury time that Blanco dove to steer wide.

The game was the second half of a doubleheader, following Portugal's 2-0 win over New Zealand. Sombreros miraculously appeared after the interval and the once pro-Portugal crowd became mostly Mexican.

The afternoon was a sellout of 19,500 at BMO Field, which has been renamed the National Soccer Stadium during the event because of sponsorship issues.