Maxi sends Argentina wild
No doubt the Argentineans are a strong team. How many teams can bring the quality of Aimar, Tevez and Messi off the bench? However, if they do have one area of weakness it is at right back. Last night against Mexico Scaloni was frequently embarrassed by the Mexican wingers and Burdisso has not been convincing either. The irony is that Argentina could have called on one of the greatest players in this position over the last 10 years – Javier Zanetti. Instead, Pekerman chose to leave him at home, a decision he is probably regretting already.
So what of the game? Mexico probably produced their best performance of the tournament and pushed the Albiceleste all the way. The match got off to an electrifying start with Mexico’s captain and best player took advantage of an error by Gabriel Heinze to hit a half-volley past Abbondanzieri after just 4 minutes. Crespo soon had Argentina level. Riquelme’s cross casued havoc and Borgetti’s attempt at a header deflected of Crespo’s foot and past Oswaldo Sanchez. However, Argentina appeared nervous. The Mexican’s kept Riquelme tightly marked and stifled his creative influence, while looking dangerous on the counter-attack. Heinze was lucky to escape with just a yellow card following an atrocious error which almost let Fonseca in. True to the tradition of rugged Argentinean defending, he hacked Fonseca down.
In the second half Pekerman brought on Aimar, Tevez and Messi and they slowly began to turn the game. Their direct running caused the Mexican defenders many problems and Messi had a goal unfairly disallowed for offside in stoppage time.
In extra-time Argentina continued to attack in waves while Mexico seemed content to wait for penalties. With six minutes left of the first half, Sorin crossed, Maxi Rodriguez, on the edge of the area, controlled the ball on his chest and in one movement smashed a left-footed volley into Sanchez’s top right hand corner, to allow 38 million Argentineans to breathe a collective sigh of relief and leave the rest of us with the mouth-watering prospect of an Argentina v Germany quarterfinal to look forward to.
Here is Maxi’s goal for you all to enjoy
June 26th, 2006 at 11:36
yes the argentinias have better quality players than mexico and yet, mexican players made the argentinians tremble and question their playing skills. Mexico has proven to be the best out of the concacaf for the past 10 yrs. Argentina earn their spot in the quarterfinals with an awsome goal that no matter how much OSWALDO SANCHEZ, not Oscar Perez whom was not even in the roster for the world cup, could have stretch. Oscar Perez was the keeper for the 2002 world cup in Korea/Japan. You need to get your names straight…Mexico played better and they deserve to advance to quarter finals because of the way they played, but with no goals no matter how good you are, you’re not going anywhere.
June 28th, 2006 at 12:27
JC thanks for the comment and apologies for the mistake which we have now corrected. I agree that Mexico played well but not sure they were better than Argentina. If they had played like this against Angola, they could have avoided Argentina and may be they would be in the quarterfinals now. They need a new forward. Borgetti is too old and has hardly played this year.