Mexico won 2-1 first Nigeria on a friendly Saturday night as El Tri launched a series of summer matches in preparation for the 2022 World Cup.
In front of the 56,872 fans at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Mexico took the lead early when Cruz Azul’s Santiago Gimenez scored 12 minutes into the match. Through an assist from Monterrey’s Jesus Gallardo, Gimenez Shot the ball between him and goalkeeper Francis Uzoho before crossing the line.
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According to the whistle of the round, El Tri found themselves with a close 1-0 advantage, but with eight shots in their favor against Nigeria’s zero total.
The Super Eagles leveled in the 54th minute thanks to their first chance on target. After a favorable cross from Calvin Bassey, Cyriel Dessers was forced to foul Mexico goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota, who fumbled for the ball into the net.
Soon after, Mexico once again took the lead after their opponent made a mistake. After Gallardo’s difficult pass on the left wing, defender William Troost-Ekong inadvertently hooked the ball over the opponent’s keeper’s head in a poor save situation.
Looking to widen the gap for his CONCACAF team, coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino started a substitution in the second half and pushed his side up the pitch. Although the introduction of substitutes Diego Lainez, Erick Gutierrez and Orbelin Pineda helped create more chances in the final third of the game, the score remained the same after the final whistle.
“As a striker, you always want to score. Luckily today I scored and I think that gives the strikers a lot of confidence,” Gimenez said in his post-match press conference.
On Friday, Martino told the press that he recently spoke with LA Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Mexico’s all-time top goalscorer, who has not been called up to the national team since. from 2019, but also reiterates that he continues to believe in attacking options like Gimenez.
“We see great potential in him,” Martino said after the match about 21-year-old Cruz Azul. “We are pleased with what he does every time he is on the national team.”
Mexico will continue a busy streak with additional friendlies on US soil against Uruguay on June 2 in Glendale, Arizona and Ecuador on June 5 in Chicago. El Tri will then begin their Nations League 2022-23 campaign at home against Suriname on June 11 and away against Jamaica on June 14. Mexico will conclude the summer with Paraguay in a friendly match on June 14. August 31 in Atlanta.
Martino’s team landed in Group C for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, along with Argentina, Poland and Saudi Arabia.
Nigeria, who failed to qualify for Qatar, will face Ecuador in a friendly match at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on June 2 before preparing for a place in the 2023 African Nations Cup of Nations. .
