Mexico opened play in the Concacaf Nations League with an easy 5-1 road win over Bermuda on Friday night.
Well, it was mostly easy.
Chucky Lozano was the victim of an incidental punch to the face from the referee, an intentional stomp from an opponent and sliced a penalty kick off the post and wide. But the Napoli winger persevered to record a goal and two assists.
Mexico vs Bermuda Highlights
Early in the match, Lozano was getting up from a foul when the referee inadvertently smacked the Mexican in the face.
¡Cuidado, profe que es la estrella del equipo!
El árbitro le metió una cachetada accidental al 'Chucky' Lozano para regalarnos un momento chusco en Nations League0-0 #PasiónPorTUSelección | #PasiónYOrgullo | #NationsLeague
EN VIVO https://t.co/Fpu7O6VJ71 pic.twitter.com/mof2ewRwZM
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 12, 2019
I’m 99 percent sure it was an accident and the referee immediately apologized, but if a player accidentally smacked a ref in the face, would he get the benefit of the doubt?
Fortunately, Lozano wasn’t fazed. The 24-year-old provided a brilliant Pirlo-esque assist to help Uriel Antuna open the scoring in the 24th minute.
¡Goooool de México!
Asistencia de crack de 'Chucky' para que Antuna abra el marcador para @miseleccionmx.0-1 #PasiónPorTUSelección | #PasiónYOrgullo | #NationsLeague
EN VIVO https://t.co/Fpu7O6VJ71 pic.twitter.com/lPoG06FrRv
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 12, 2019
That only seemed to make Bermuda mad, as Jaylon Bather took a little kick at Lozano near the end of the first half after the Bermuda defender had fouled him to the ground.
Neither the ref nor the AR saw the action and Bather wasn’t booked.
¡Eso era de roja!
Pisotón sobre el 'Chucky' Lozano que el árbitro no vio.0-1 #PasiónPorTUSelección | #PasiónYOrgullo | #NationsLeague
EN VIVO https://t.co/jXmEsVfBp5 pic.twitter.com/NXWTDwBYTm
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 12, 2019
Chucky would get his revenge.
In the second half, after Mexico’s lead was cut to 3-1, Lozano showed his expert finishing to restore a three-goal advantage.
¡Gooool de México!
'Chucky' ya puso su nombre en el marcador. El Tri ya golea a Bermudas.1-4 #PasiónPorTUSelección | #PasiónYOrgullo | #NationsLeague
EN VIVO https://t.co/jXmEsVfBp5 pic.twitter.com/O9zQubLHRL
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 12, 2019
But once again Lozano was the center of misfortune for Mexico.
Moments after his goal, El Tri drew a penalty kick on a hand ball in the box. Unlike Christian Pulisic the night before for the U.S., Lozano was unable to convert the spot kick, hitting his shot off the post and wide.
¡Tú no, Chucky, tú no!
Penal para México y Lozano mandó el balón al poste.1-4 #PasiónPorTUSelección | #PasiónYOrgullo | #NationsLeague
EN VIVO https://t.co/jXmEsVfBp5 pic.twitter.com/mJJ2PdiWSS
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 12, 2019
Not that it mattered much for Mexico.
Héctor Herrera put the game away with a golazo from range that was assisted by Lozano.
¡Goooool golazo golazo golazo golazo de México!
Héctor Herrera nos regala la anotación de la noche con este zapatazo increíble.1-5 #PasiónPorTUSelección | #PasiónYOrgullo | #NationsLeague
EN VIVO https://t.co/Fpu7O6VJ71 pic.twitter.com/s25hdrI0Vk
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 12, 2019
With the 5-1 win, Mexico jumped to the top of Group B on goal difference, despite the fact Panama (two games, three points) and Bermuda (three games, three points) have played more. Bermuda actually upset Panama 2-0 in September in Panama, perhaps the biggest surprise of the Nations League thus far.
El Tri will welcome Panama to the Azteca on Tuesday.
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