Mexico wave past TT 3-1

MEXICO began their campaign in Group “C” of the CONCACAF semifinal 2006 World Cup qualifiers with an easy 3-1 win over hosts Trinidad and Tobago at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo yesterday. A large crowd of approximately 20,000 witnessed a depressing performance from the Soca Warriors, four days after a hard-fought 2-1 win over St Kitts/Nevis at Warner Park, Basseterre. In the crowd was Prime Minister Patrick Manning who was whisked to the Mucurapo venue to support the country he leads after returning from Tobago where he surveyed the damage done by Hurricane Ivan on Tuesday. But, with seconds ticking in the match, TT coach Bertille St Clair was seen wiping his face with a white rag —  an expression which summed up a lackadaisical effort from his team.

The Mexicans went ahead after only 27 seconds of play, with striker Jesus Arellano capitalising on a defensive blunder by TT stopper Marvin Andrews and rifled home his left-footer past goalkeeper Kelvin Jack. Jack’s inclusion over Clayton Ince was totally baffling, and his reluctance to come off his goalline cost TT their second in the 20th. Striker Jared Borgetti received a long ball from the right by defender Francisco Rodriguez and, with defender Dennis Lawrence beaten for pace, Borgetti simply lobbed the ball over the flatfooted keeper. Arellano almost got his second in the 28th, played on by midfielder Luis Ernesto, his right-footer was blocked by Jack. Attacks on goal by the TT team were few and far in between, and Stern John’s header, from a right-side freekick from Angus Eve in the 40th, came against the run of play. That aside, the Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez was a virtual spectator throughout the match.

The Mexicans totally dominated proceedings in the second half, with the TT defenders slow to react while the midfield trio of Eve, Arnold Dwarika and Brent Rahim at sea against their quick-footed opponents. Borgetti’s right-footer from the edge of the penalty box curled wide in the 48th but TT’s striker Errol McFarlane muffed a golden chance for the equaliser, heading wide from an Eve corner two minutes later. Borgetti and Andrews were later treated for injuries sustained when they collided head-on in the centre of the field but, with their opponents fading mentally, and physically, the Mexicans sealed the deal in the 80th. Midfielder Antonio Naelson was allowed room in the heart of the field and, under no pressure, laid off to Arellano who twisted and turned past Lawrence, Brent Sancho and Dwarika and blasted his low left-footer beyond the reach of Jack.

Teams -
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Kelvin Jack; Marvin Andrews, Brent Sancho, Dennis Lawrence, Marlon Rojas, Kenwyne Jones (Andre Boucaud 62nd); Angus Eve (capt), Arnold Dwarika, Brent Rahim (Cornell Glen 74th); Stern John, Errol McFarlane (Jason Scotland 82nd).
MEXICO: Oswaldo Sanchez (capt); Hugo Guerrero, Carlos Flores (Gonzalo Pineda 74th), Mario Zuniga, Francisco Rodriguez; Pavel Pardo, Jose Salvador, Antonio Naelson (Hector Altamirano 85th), Luis Ernesto; Jesus Arellano, Jared Borgetti.