Argentina v Mexio - Match Report
Maxi magic powers Argentina past gallant Mexico
during the World Cup 2006 round of 16 football game Argentina vs. Mexico, 24 June 2006 at Leipzig stadium. AFP PHOTO DANIEL GARCIA
A superb goal eight minutes into extra-time by Maxi Rodriguez sealed Argentina's 2-1 win over Mexico in Leipzig on Saturday and a mouthwatering clash with Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals next Friday.
Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez (R) dives vainly to save a kick by Argentinian midfielder Maxi Rodriguez (not pictured) during the World Cup 2006 round of 16 football game Argentina vs. Mexico, 24 June 2006 at Leipzig stadium. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN
Regulation time had finished 1-1 after two goals in an action-packed first quarter of the game, but it was a moment's brilliance from Rodriguez that ensured Mexico would not make their third ever World Cup quarter-final.
The Atletico Madrid midfielder chested down an innocuous Juan Sorin pass on the edge of the area, swivelled and fired a looping left-footed volley into the far top corner beyond the reach of diving goalkeeper Osvaldo Sanchez.
The early pressure of an entralling match, however, had been all Mexican as the Argentinian midfield struggled with the pace of the game and it paid off in the sixth minute.
Captain Rafael Marquez lost Gabriel Heinze to come rushing in to the far post unopposed to drive home a Pavel Pardo free-kick that had been headed superbly on by Mario Mendez from the near post.
Argentina responded immediately, pressure from Hernan Crespo forcing Jared Borgetti, who was returning after missing the last two games through injury, to head Juan Riquelme's swirling corner into his own net in the 10th minute.
Argentinian forward Hernan Crespo (N°9) looks at the ball he kicked bouncing on Mexican forward Jared Borgetti (foreground R) to score the equalizer despite Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez (top) during the World Cup 2006 round of 16 football game Argentina vs. Mexico, 24 June 2006 at Leipzig stadium. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS
Lacking the incisive passing and running of Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez, both benched by coach Jose Pekerman despite their outstanding display in the goalless draw against the Netherlands, Argentina looked one-dimensional against the more dynamic Mexican side.
Borgetti, who scored 14 goals in Mexico's qualifying run, was a constant threat to Argentina, whose strikers were continually thwarted by the stout defending of the outstanding Marquez, Carlos Salcido, Ricardio Osario and Andres Guardado.
Last-ditch defence by West Ham defender Lionel Scaloni deflected Borgetti's header in the opening minutes, Heinze was forced into a sliding block on a vicious shot after 14 minutes, and goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri then tipped a blistering 25-yard shot over the bar.
Marquez was on hand in the 18th minute of a gripping game to parry a shot by Crespo after a slicing through ball from Esteban Cambiasso.
Crespo was almost on the scoresheet five minutes later, the Chelsea striker's lob off a delicate Cambiasso chip beating goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez but also the far post.
The first-half ended in controversy when Heinze, who put in for him a rare sloppy performance in the first-half, miscontrolled a simple pass from Abbondanzieri and gifted the ball to Francisco Fonseca before hacking down the striker.
Swiss referee Massimo Busacca doled out a yellow card for the Manchester United defender but it could easily been red.
Fonseca had a clear chance in the 54th minute, failing to control a ball with just the Argentine keeper in front of him.
Straight up the other end, Sanchez beat away a shot from Rodriguez, largely outmuscled until then.
And Sanchez made the save of the match a minute later, showing great reflexes to parry a well-driven Javier Saviola shot around the post.
With replacement Zinha running the show for Mexico in midfield, Fonseca stabbed the ball wide after meeting Gonzalo Pineda's deft cross with four minutes of regulation time to play.
Zinha went close to equalising in the 107th minute but his effort was fired wide and the two-time World Cup winners were content to run the clock down against their flagging opponents.