Chapter 210: Brazil VS Mexico
Brazil almost replicated the line-up they had in their second big win over Costa Rric, with the only difference being that youngster McCone replaced the in-form Junior Mancini.
Under the watchful eye, the Brazilian team launched a fierce attack on Mexico from the beginning.
They seem to want to prove to the world: we are not spicy chicken, we are not the second and third teams of Brazil, we are an upright Brazilian team!
It's not like a second-rate or third-rate team can provoke us and then get out of the way!
In just the fourth minute of the opening game, Ricardo almost scored with a long-range shot, but fortunately, Mexican goalkeeper Sanchez concentrated and slapped the ball off the line.
Alex took a corner and Juan grabbed the ball to head it at four yards out, and the ball went close to finding the net again before being single-handed out by Alex Sanchez in front of the goal line at the end of the day.
In the 8th minute, Adriano received a clever pass from Ricardo in the box and fired a left-footed volley that went just wide of the far post.
Two minutes later, Brazil had another corner, this time Adriano grabbed the header and went slightly wide.
In just 10 minutes, Brazil had already threatened several times and left Mexico coach La Volpe on pins and needles.
He felt that his pre-match comments were not wrong, and that the skills of this Brazilian team were indeed inferior to Argentina. But what he didn't expect was that the Brazilian team, which has always been known for its delicate technique, repeatedly played high and high today, using the header advantage to wreak havoc in the Mexican penalty area, making the Mexican team with insufficient average height miserable.
Even if he is clear about the tactics of the Brazilian team, he does not have a good solution, after all, the lack of height of the Mexican players is a congenital disadvantage, he can only let the players strengthen the pressing on the wing, and do not give the Brazilian team the opportunity to pass calmly.
After settling their ground, Mexico also played a couple of good quality counter-attacks. But the overall situation on the field is that Brazil has the advantage, and Mexico's goal conceded is only a matter of time, everyone can see it.
Many reporters were already in the press gallery waiting for questions to be asked after the game.
"May I ask Mr. Lavolpe, in this game, the Brazilian team clearly took the initiative and won easily, does this reflect the difference in the strength of the two teams?"
Or ask Pereira. "In your hands, you ended Brazil's embarrassing record of five consecutive games against Mexico, how are you feeling now?"
In the 18th minute, the Brazilian team played a combination on the left side. Neri and Edu made a one-two, with the latter bursting to the edge of the line and crossing, followed by centre-back Juan at the back post, heading just over the crossbar at the Mexican defender.
Three minutes later, it was still a similar routine, this time with a cross from Gustavo. Neri, still passing to the back post, this time the two from Sao Paulo managed to connect, Ricardo shook off the Mexican defender who was marking him at the back post, and the fish jumped to head the ball into the goal, bouncing the ball to the ground, Sanchez could not do anything.
At 1:0, Brazil took the lead.
โGoallll๏ผ Ricardo opens the scoring for Brazil! The commentator of Brazilian TV excitedly shouted, "We know that Brazil will score sooner or later, and judging from the situation on the field, Brazil's attack has always been superior, and there have been many scoring opportunities." But Ricardo's goal gave us a reassurance. โ
"Brazil today is the same team as we were in the last game. Today the lads showed high morale, tenacious fighting spirit, fighting hard every ball, so that Mexico almost had no power to fight back! โ
The commentator gloated: "Before the game, Lavolpe also said that this Brazilian team is not as good as Argentina and is not an opponent of Mexico. So now let's see who the clown is. โ
The Brazilian team after the goal was not satisfied and was still attacking. Four minutes later, they had another great chance, Ricardo dribbled on the right side of the penalty area, broke through the defense of Mexico's Carmona and Davino in succession, knocked the ball horizontally in front of the goal, Adriano rushed to the goal, pressed Marcos with his body, swept with his unaccustomed right foot, the football went around Sanchez's arm, hit the post and bounced off the bottom line, causing a sigh from the Brazilian fans at the scene.
Soon after, Mexico midfielder Osorio was substituted due to injury, and Altamirano came off the bench, a passive substitution that made Mexico's situation worse, with the midfield almost completely out of control and often being easily beaten into the box by Brazil through midfield.
Towards the end of the first half, Brazil played another brilliant combination, and Ricardo received a game from Gustavo. Neri's big foot shifted, and after stopping the ball on his chest, he shook Carmona and passed the ball into the box, Adriano cut in at high speed, raised his leg to play, and the ball was magically blocked by Sanchez with both legs. But the football didn't fly far, Adriano followed the ball and was ready to beat Sanchez into the empty goal, and in a hurry, Sanchez brought down Adriano and added a yellow card.
The Mexican players quit, and they surrounded the referee to ask for an explanation, believing that Adriano had fallen too exaggerated and was suspected of faking a fall. The referee Luis was unmoved, insisted on the penalty, was impatient with the Mexican players' arguments, and showed Davino a yellow card warning before the Mexican players dispersed in a daze.
Alex took the penalty and slotted it into the top right corner of the net to give Brazil a 2-0 lead.
At half-time, the Brazilian players looked excited and relaxed. Pereira also did not hesitate to praise: "You guys did a good job, keep up the good work!" In the second half, we have to continue this style of play, combine high and low, and kill them in one go! โ
In the first half, Mexico only slightly threatened with a few free-kicks, which were completely unmatched by Brazil, and they were almost pressed to the ground and rubbed. If no miracle happens, Brazil will win easily, and even Mexico is in complete danger of collapsing.
After the start of the second half, Brazil continued to go on the offensive and regularly bullied the diminutive Mexicans with high balls, following Pereira's instructions.
In the 47th minute, Adriano broke through and crossed, and his partner Ricardo grabbed the point and shook his head to attack the goal, but unfortunately the top was a little right and was defused by Sanchez.
In the 52nd minute, Alex's corner kick allowed Juan to grab the spot, and his header once again broke the Mexican goal.
Brazil were about to celebrate, but referee Luis blew the whistle for Juan to be fouled on the jump, and Mexico took a free-kick.
Juan was furious, he obviously pressed his teammate Edu to jump, why did he foul? But at this time, the Brazilian team led by two goals, and the situation was very good, he did not want to clash with the referee, and silently returned to his own half.
In the 55th minute, Alex took a corner kick, and Luisson nodded the ball slightly wide.
In the 58th minute, Ricardo used his personal skills to break into the penalty area after getting rid of it in a row, and pushed the far corner on the right side of the penalty area, hitting the post again. He looked up to the sky and sighed, it seems that he was unlucky today, so he still concentrated on assisting.