Mexico Strengthen Lead In Qualifying With A Bit Of CONCACAF Magic

Mexico took hold of the Hex with a controversial 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain. Mexico had opportunities to add to their total, but the Soca Warriors will be aggrieved to have had a first half goal incorrectly chalked off for offside.

Trinidad and Tobago were coming off a surprise 1-0 victory over Panama in the previous match day, but Mexico entered the encounter at the top of the Hex after their 2-0 win against Costa Rica. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez started the match in search of a record-breaking 47th goal for El Tri, but it never arrived.

Mexico had the better chances early on, with Hector Moreno heading an attempt straight at goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams after a great cross from Carlos Salcedo. 

Chicharito then had an opportunity in the 19th-minute after a good cross from Raul Jimenez, but his attempted flicked header went harmlessly wide. In the 32nd-minute Trinidad and Tobago looked to have grabbed the opener.

A sublime piece of control followed by a devastating turn from Kevin Molino sent him barreling at the Mexico defense. With Joevin Jones wide to his left, Molino patiently waited for his run to arrive before slipping a perfectly weighted through ball into his path. Jones finished emphatically, smashing his shot beyond Alfredo Talavera. 

#SocaWarriors should be ahead at half vs #ElTri , terrible offside call wrongly ruled out Joevin Jones' nice goal. #Sounders #TRIvMEX pic.twitter.com/TV9659aE7O

— Jason Foster (@JogaBonitoUSA) March 28, 2017

It was a wonderful goal, but it was wrongly ruled off for offside. The teams went to the tunnel at half level 0-0.

In the second half, Mexico were the only team that threatened. Hector Herrera lashed a right-footed shot off the outside post, but Mexico got the breakthrough in the 58th.

GOOAL!
@Diego_Reyes13 hands El Tri the lead with a bullet header. 1-0. #WCQ https://t.co/9f8o2jSsUM

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 29, 2017

A superb corner from Layun was met by Diego Reyes, and he sent an unstoppable header into the net. Chicharito had a couple of chances to become Mexico’s all-time leading scorer, but Mexico comfortably saw out the remainder of the 90 to win 1-0.

Mexico are in the driver’s seat for the rest of qualifying, and Trinidad and Tobago find themselves at the bottom of the Hex with only three points from four matches.