Sanchez Gives Mexico a Lift
Late substitute Horacio Sanchez scored two goals in three minutes to lead Mexico over South Africa, 4-2, in the U.S. Cup on Wednesday night.
Sanchez entered with 11 minutes to play and Mexico ahead, 2-1. It was 3-1 a minute later when South African defender Fabian McCarthy tried to head the ball back to goalkeeper Andre Arendse. McCarthy wound up feeding Sanchez on the run and he shot the ball just inside the left post.
Sanchez sealed the victory in the 83rd minute by redirecting a cross from Jaime Lozano with the outside of his right foot for a 4-1 lead.
Mexico (1-0-1) will play the United States, and South Africa (0-2) will face Ireland at East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday in the four-team tournament.
Jesus Olade scored Mexico’s first goal, in the 39th minute, firing a shot between the legs of Arendse after making a 35-yard run up the right side.
Luis Perez made it 2-0 four minutes later on a short feed from Olade, who drew the defense to him just outside the penalty box and skipped a pass up the left side. Perez’s left-footed shot went in.
Benni McCarthy broke through for South Africa in the 51st minute, making the score 2-1 after a mistake by Mexican goalkeeper Sergio Bernal.
South Africa’s Thabo Mngomeni scored off a penalty kick with a minute remaining.
Mexico did not bring many of its regular starters, but the appearance of World Cup hero Luis Hernandez was enough for the crowd of 27,815. They cheered his every move and let out a roar when his bicycle kick in the 25th minute barely missed the right post.
