The SDCCU Stadium in San Diego oversaw the dawn of the new era as Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino took the helm of Mexico for the first time for a friendly international against Chile on American soil. With the Mexicans desperate for a good result, this match had all the ingredients to make it the next instalment of our ‘Framed’ series.
Coming off seven defeats in their last eight games, the Mexican fans needed something to cheer about, and a new manager was not enough. At least not yet, anyway. No, you have to earn the adulation of the Mexican people, and for former Barcelona and Argentina manager, Tata Martino, that started at the first whistle of this match.
A near 70,000 capacity crowd rocking the foundations of the stands, it may have been a neutral ground, but with the support but outside and in, this felt like a home game for Mexico. A sea of green assembled for a Californian tailgate with Mexican flavour as the noisey neighbours made their thoughts clear on Trump. Good luck getting your ball back if goes over that wall, mate.
This was a friendly, but that seems to mean something else in Mexico, for, while the game was played in good spirits, the Mexican fans came together for the occasion with all the passion you’d associate with a tournament final. And they demanded a result against a team that they have failed to beat on their last three attempts.
El Tri, in their new look black home kit, were able to turn an area of their game that has previously been a weakness into a strength, scoring twice from set-pieces: Raul Jimenez slotting home from the spot after Carlos Salcedo was taken down in the box, and Hector Moreno heading home from a corner. But it was the third goal that got the crowd riled. A high press on the Chileans yielded possession, and a quick break saw Hirving Lozano free to dink a delightful finish over the keeper. Three goals in 14 minutes. If Martino can get Mexico playing like this with regularity, it won’t be long before he’s earned all the adulation he needs.
Photography by Jared Martinez for SoccerBible.
