Sports

Mexico 5-1 New Zealand: Halfway to Brazil

El Tri get a big win in first leg of World Cup playoff series.

LEE ESTA NOTA EN ESPAÑOL

MEXICO CITY - The Mexican National Team achieved a big 5-1 win over New Zealand in the first game of the two-leg last chance World Cup playoff series. With no European based players Mexico finally got the big win they have been waiting for all year long.

Mexico started off the game as aggressive as possible. New Zealand got backed up deep in their own field and were just hoping to hold off the Mexican pressure. It took the Mexicans 31 minutes to open the scoring, but it was Paul Aguilar the right back defender that had pushed up the field who pounced on a loose ball to open the scoring.

A few minutes later Raul Jimenez converted a corner kick into the second goal of the night to double the lead for Mexico and go to halftime with the 2-0 advantage.

Early in the second half captain Rafa Marquez sent in a long 60 yard pass to Miguel Layun in the left wing, Layun controlled the ball and sent a low cross to Oribe Peralta so the Santos striker could poke the ball into the net for the third goal.

The Layun-Peralta combo once again combined in the 79th minute when Layun sent the cross in and Peralta took a few steps back before heading the ball over the head of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

A few minutes later in the 83rd the captain Marquez headed in a corner kick to score the fifth goal. The visitors got a goal back in a moment of lack of concentration in the Mexican defense,

Mexico will now travel to New Zealand where they will play the second leg one week from now. New Zealand is obligated to win 4-0 in order to advance (thanks to the away goal they got today.) If Mexico scores one, New Zealand will be obligated to score five to send the game into extra time and/or penalty kicks. If Mexico scores two or more New Zealand will have to score seven (or more) in order to advance to the World Cup.

jonny.rico@sandiegored.com (@jonyrico)

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