U-20 to Semi Final

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Mexico played an extraordinary campaign in this U-20 World Cup. 3-0 Gambia, 2-1 Portugal, 2-1 New Zealand and 3-0 Congo in 1/4 Final.
But the game today proved to be their most difficult battle in the tournament, and the one that they would not walk out as winners.

The match started out like everybody thought it would: a match up between Aguero and Dos Santos. Both teams went through the first 30 minutes looking for their target man, and neither succeeded.

Argentina started the match with a series of attacks, only to find the Mexican gate reliably guarded by their keeper Alfonso Blanco. After the sprint races at the very beginning, both teams quickly settled down into their fighting positions and started sniping for their super stars.

Mexico went right, and kept going down their right wing. They had some success early on, and at one point started getting crossed in and creating threats from around our box. Romero and the woodwork held their line, then our defense warmed up, and the game started falling into our hands.

The defense kept pressure on Mexican attackers. They successfully disrupted Mexico's attempts to organize in the midfield, and kept us a little higher in total possession through out the first half.

With Aguero tightly marked, Moralez became the connection piece. He put alot of pressure on Mexico midfield by moving the ball forward through quick and rapid combos with Di Maria and Piatti. But some unideal field conditions prevented us from scoring early.

Mexico was willing to keep possession and press into our half. And at one point they started to look dangerous. Vela's stop-turn-shot marked the high point of Mexican offense during the first half, but Romero kept the score at zero.

The continuous offensive pressure from Mini Argentino finally paid off. Seconds before half time, an error in Mexican defense allowed Moralez to take a crack at their goal from just beyond the 12 yard mark. The left directed shot deflected by Mexican defender went towards the right post, and Blanco had no chance...

The third quarter of the game was marked by Mexican's pressing and assaults. The Argentine defense turned out to be too tightly arranged to get through. By the 65th minute, Mexico had used 2 subs in attempt to provide alternative routes to transport the ball. Then by 70th minute it's obvious they had failed, and the game was again getting controlled by Argentina.

With 20 minutes to go, the tired Mexican formation, unable to find an effective assault plan, started to push in the middle. Argentina then substituted in Matias Sanchez to provide more cushioning and counter attacking options.

Unable to break through, Mexican players started turning to frustrations. For precautionary measurement, Hugo put in Zarate for Aguero. Which probably marked Zarate's last NT appearance. With his future set in Qatar, it's unlikely he'll be able to compete against other youngsters in future Seleccions.


In the other 1/4 Final today, Chile and Nigeria went into Extra Time with 0-0 tie. Then Chile scored at 96th minute and send Nigerians into a rampage. It ended with a Nigerian send off and 3 more Chilean goals.


Now there are 2 South American teams and 2 European teams in the Semi Final stage.