Mexico’s Soccer Team Holds Peru to a Scoreless Tie

The Mexican national soccer team, playing in spite of the earthquake that devastated Mexico City, held the World Cup side of Peru to a scoreless tie before 25,645 fans Friday night at the Coliseum.

The effect of the earthquake on the Mexican people was evident during a moment of silence before the start of the game, when many of the players knelt in prayer on the field. The game’s organizers said that 2% of the game’s proceeds would go to aid the victims of the disaster.

Mexico, as the organizing country for the World Cup next summer, is already assured a berth in the tournament, and Peru is one of four nations still in contention for the last spot allocated to South American countries.

Mexico had the first real scoring opportunity of Friday night’s match in the eighth minute when midfielder Manuel Negrete, located near the edge of the penalty area on the left side, sent a tricky, left-footed volley into the Peruvian goalmouth.

For a split second, it looked as if Negrete’s shot would float untouched into the net to put Mexico ahead, but Peruvian goalkeeper Jose Gonzalez Ganoza was able to jump just high enough to tip the shot over the bar, his momentum carrying him into the goal.

It was Peru’s turn to miss a chance in the 17th minute, when striker Julio Cesar Uribe, his back to the goal about seven yards out, took a high pass from Guillermo La Rosa and attempted a flying overhead volley. His weak bicycle kick was easily caught by Mexican goalkeeper Pablo Larios.

As the first half went on, both teams alternated relatively quick counterattacks with turnovers in midfield, but neither team played with distinction. Both Mexico and Peru created a few opportunities, but neither side had any success in converting them into lights on the Coliseum scoreboard.

In the second half, the flow of the play was more open, with the distance between backlines alternating between the usual 35-40 yards to 50-60 yards and back again.

Mexico again threatened in the 63rd minute, when Negrete, playing copycat with the Peruvian Uribe, tried to put his team ahead with a bicycle kick of his own. However, it was easily caught by Peruvian netminder Gonzalez Ganoza.

Larios, normally the second-string goalkeeper for Mexico, kept his team out of trouble and saved them many times throughout the match, but he was especially impressive in the 72nd minute when he made a catch worthy of an NFL wide receiver.

The Mexican netminder went high in the air in the midst of a crowd of Peruvians, tipped a high cross over the head of one opposing player, followed the ball’s downward path with his eyes and caught it while lying on the ground.

Neither Mexico nor Peru threatened the rest of the match, and as the end approached, it seemed as if the teams were just trying to maintain the tie.