1
TORONTO — The 3-0 score makes it look as though Mexico had a comfortable game against Gambia in their Group C match yesterday at the FIFA under-20 World Cup.
In reality, it was anything but.
Mexico's goals all came after the 56th minute and after surviving a strong first half by Gambia, which hit a post and had possible goals denied by two superb saves from goalkeeper Alfonso Blanco.
The paid attendance at the National Soccer Stadium was a capacity 19,500, but there were empty seats when Mexico and Gambia took the field.
Mexico's Julio Cesar Dominguez, right, battles for control of the ball with Gambia's Ousman Jallow during first half action. (Adrian Wyld/CP)
Related Articles
Internet Links
The match was played at a good pace, thoroughly entertaining, particularly in the first half.
Mexico had its chances as well in the first half, but no one would have been surprised if Gambia had taken a lead into the interval, which was reached with a 0-0 score.
Gambia head coach Peter Bonu Johnson said his team has taken encouragement from the game. The attitude, he said, is "if we can give Mexico such a tough run, then we can make it with other teams because Mexico is one of the favourites."
Gambia forced a save from Blanco in the second minute, hit a post in the 12th, and forced two key saves in the final five minutes of the first half. Blanco tipped a ball over the bar in the 41st minute and made a diving stop in the 45th.
Gambia outshot Mexico 5-1 in the first half, even though Mexico had the ball 57 per cent of the time.
After those late saves, though, the game turned in Mexico's favour and Johnson knows why.
"In the second half, we lost concentration in the middle of the field," he said, adding he felt a lack of concentration led to a lack of finish on chances in the first half. "There was a little bit of luck and a lack of concentration from my other forwards. Because if they had made some follow-ups, they could have finished them easily."
His Mexican counterpart agreed Gambia was the better team in the first half.
"We started very slowly, but later on we improved, kept possession and played as planned," coach Jesus Ramirez said. "We were nervous in the first half. It's not easy to start out in a World Cup without being a little nervous. But we took the game to them later on and I am happy with the adjustments we made."
Giovanni dos Santos, who just missed a chance in the 21st minute, scored the first goal in the 57th minute on a powerful volley from 20 yards out after he gained control of a bouncing ball.
"To be honest, when the ball came to me, I didn't even think twice about hitting it or where I was, I just knew I needed to try and shoot," Dos Santos said. "I'm so happy it went in."
Hector Moreno made it 2-0 in the 67th minute after a series of shots in which Gambia 'keeper Joseph Gomez either made the stop or the ball was cleared from the line by a defender.
Javier Hernandez scored in the 89th minute to provide a margin that flattered Mexico.
"We struggled a little in the first half," Dos Santos said, "but we talked about the problems and fixed them in the second half."
Portugal and Mexico are the favoured teams in Group C, but Gambia has the potential to make things interesting.
"Gambia are a very good team," Ramirez said. "We knew about this before the game."
Mexico will play Portugal on Thursday in Toronto. Portugal will go to Montreal to play Gambia on Sunday.
"We have two important games to come and the boys will need to calm down, settle their nerves and get better," Ramirez said. "We came here to win the World Cup and to do so, we will need to get better."
