Sports

Mexico 3-1 Martinique: Mexico advances to quarterfinals as second place

El Tri gets a win on last group game.

DENVER - In the final game of the group stage of the Gold Cup the Mexican National Team got a 3-1 victory over Martinique. Three days after the 20th anniversary of that big Mexico 9-0 win over Martinique in the 1993 Gold Cup; El Tri struggles a little more to beat the Caribbean side.

From the start of the game the Mexican side looked to attack the opposing goal. And barely in the first minute of play Miguel Layun who shinned for Mexico all through out the first half both in a positive and negative light; sent in a good cross where his club teammate was just inches away from tapping in the ball.

A mere three minutes Chivas midfielder Marco Fabian had a one on one with the Martinique goalkeeper, and it was the keeper who won that battle in another close call for Mexico.

The reigning Gold Cup champions would find their just reward in the 20th minute through Marco Fabian. Raul Jimenez used his good body size to win an air ball and flick it onto Luis Montes, Montes went one on one with the last defender and passed the ball off to Rafael Marquez-Lugo who could not get the ball pass the goalkeeper who blocked the shot. The rebound was taken advantage of by Fabian who awkwardly shot the ball and it found the back of the net.

Mexico doubled their lead in the 33rd minute. Luis Montes grabbed the ball in midfield, dribbled pass one opposing player, and took a real long distance shot that found the top corner of the net. Goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent the ball from going in.

Before halftime Miguel Layun Mexico's right back that had been having a good game, ran through a Martinique attacker just inside the box. The center referee who had been calling a strict game calling lot of fouls on both teams did not hesitate to award the penalty kick. Parsemain stepped up for Martinique and put the ball away to pull the Caribbean side within one.

In the second half Mexico really dropped the intensity. They stilled controlled the ball and looked to go forward, but at a much slower pace. This caused the dangerous goal scoring opportunities to disappear.

The Mexican National team manger Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre decided to send in defensive minded substitutions to protect the one goal lead. He took out Carlos Peña who is a midfielder who can produce more offensively and sent in Efrain Velarde who also plays in the midfield but puts in more defensive work.

He also pulled out the most creative player Marco Fabian and sent in his club teammate Chivas defender Miguel Ponce. Ponce with his first touch found a perfect Miguel Layun cross to tap in the 3-1.

With this win Mexico reaches six points and advances to the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup in second place of group A, behind Panama who reached seven points. Martinique with three points will wait for other results to see if it is good enough to advance as one of the best third places.

Starting lineups:

Mexico- México- Moisés Muñoz, Joel Huiqui, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Adrián Aldrete, Carlos Peña (Efraín Velarde min. 68), Alejandro Castro, Luis Montes, Marco Fabián, Raúl Jiménez, Rafael Márquez-Lugo (Javier Orozco min. 80)

Martinique- Kevin Olimpa, Jean Babin, Gregory, Audrick Linord (Stephane Abaul min. 35), Gael Germany, Daniel Herelle, Steve Gustan, Kevin Parsemain, Oliver Thomert, Fabrice Reuperne (Kevin Tresfield min. 78), Jordy Delem (Sebastien Cretinoir min. 56)

Breaking news in Tijuana and San Diego.

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