Colombia dominates Mexico in friendly at AT&T Stadium

Review by: Joseph Owens

Photos by: Javier Vicencio

Before a raucous capacity crowd of 72,438 at AT&T stadium in Arlington, TX the Colombia Men’s National Team defeated the Mexico Men’s National Team, 4-0 in a friendly match in the lead up to next year’s FIFA World Cup. The crowd appeared evenly split between the supporters of El Tri and Los Cafetaleros.

Colombia began the match with a high press that allowed them to dominate the early possession and helped them generate a couple of corner kicks in the first ten minutes. Mexico began to control the action in the midfield better and produced a couple of scoring chances of their own.

However, Colombia was able to break through with their first goal in the 16th minute off a set piece after a foul by Mexico on the right side of the box about 10 yards from the touchline. An excellent pass into the box by James Rodriguez led to a touch off the left foot and into the back of the net by Jhon Lucumi.

After the Colombia goal, Mexico settled in a bit and began to control the possession. Their best chance of the half came on a set piece in the 35th minute after a Colombia foul on the left side of the box about midway toward the midfield stripe. An excellent centering pass by Mexico forward Alexis Vega came dangerously close to being tapped in the net by not one but two diving attempts from both Santiago Gimenez and Cesar Montes. However, the ball scooted past both for a Colombia goal kick. The score remained 1-0 in favor of Colombia as the first half concluded – in spite of Mexico claiming 62% of the possession and outshooting Colombia 4-3.

Oberlin Pineda of Mexico started things off in the second half with an excellent chance after a centering pass by a teammate that was saved by Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina. However, Colombia scored their second goal in the 56th minute on a breakaway goal by forward Luis Diaz after an excellent leading pass from the midfield area that he put past Mexican goalkeeper Angel Malagon.

Colombia hammered home their 3rd goal in the 64th minute off the foot of Jefferson Lerma after a failed attempt to clear the ball out of the box after a free kick from just to the left of the box following a yellow card issued to Jorge Sanchez.

Mexico had one last chance on a breakout by Hirving Lozano, but his attempt was again collected by Ospina in goal. Then to add insult to injury, Colombia scored for the final time in the 87th minute on another breakaway by Johan Carbonero as he slipped the ball past the diving Malagon who had charged out from his net to the very edge of the box to end the scoring for the evening and tally Colombia’s fourth goal.

Mexico came into Saturday’s match having won only once vs. Colombia in their seven total matches. The most recent contest ended with Colombia taking the fixture with a 3-2 score against El Tri. Mexico had also drawn its last two matches against Japan and South Korea during the last international window in September. Having already secured its spot in next year’s World Cup as one of the 3 host nations (along with Canada and the US), Mexico has been using its matches to fine tune its roster and gather momentum heading into the tournament. Mexico’s next match will be Tuesday, the 14th against Ecuador at Akron Stadium.

Meanwhile, Colombia has successfully qualified as well after completing a successful run through the South American soccer federation (CONMEBOL). They join other federation members Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay in qualifying to play in the 2026 World Cup. Los Cafetalero’s had won 2 of its last five fixtures, including its last two in a row against Bolivia and Venezuela. Colombia’s next match is set for Tuesday the 17th at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ against Canada.

Fans