Mexico Recaptures Winning Feeling
Mexico ended its seven-game winless streak in emphatic fashion Sunday, routing Jamaica, 4-0, in a World Cup qualifying game in front of 80,000 fans at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
The score was deceptive, however, because Jamaica enjoyed the better of the match except in the early going and at the very end when the outcome already was decided.
Still, two goals by Antonio De Nigris in the first 18 minutes and two by Jared Borgetti in the final six minutes were enough to boost the Mexico from last place to second in the six-nation qualifying group.
The U.S., Mexico and Jamaica each have three points, but the Americans, who shut out Mexico, 2-0, in Columbus, Ohio, on Feb. 28, remain in first place because they have played one fewer game.
The U.S. plays at Honduras (one point) on Wednesday, the same day that Trinidad and Tobago (no points) plays host to Costa Rica (one point).
The top three teams advance to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea after a 10-month, round-robin qualifying series.
Mexico took the lead in the 15th minute when De Nigris powered a sharp downward header into the net off a corner kick from the right. Three minutes later, a free kick by midfielder Victor Ruiz was deflected into the net off De Nigris’ body, but the striker was credited with the goal, which caught Jamaican goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts moving to block the initial shot.
De Nigris, who leads the Mexican league in scoring with eight goals for Monterrey, made his national team debut only two weeks ago, scoring a goal in a dramatic 3-3 exhibition tie with Brazil at Mexico City.
That was enough to keep him in the lineup at the expense of Galaxy forward Luis Hernandez, who was not included in Coach Enrique Meza’s squad of 18.
Goalkeeper Jorge Campos, a former Galaxy player, started in the 2-0 loss in Columbus but did not play against either Brazil or Jamaica, giving way to newcomer Oswaldo Sanchez, who plays for Chivas of Guadalajara.
Sanchez likely will retain his place since he saved a poorly struck penalty kick by Jamaica’s Onandi Lowe after Lowe had been fouled by defender Rafael Marquez to deny the Reggae Boyz their best scoring opportunity.
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Galaxy players, who returned to Los Angeles over the weekend after two weeks of training in Florida, will be the guests of the Los Angeles Sports Council and the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce at a “kickoff” luncheon on Thursday at the Regal Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
The noon event, which will feature Coach Sigi Schmid and most of the players, is open to the public at $65 a person. The Galaxy opens its sixth season April 7 against the San Jose Earthquakes at the Rose Bowl.
