Alfredo Talavera owes Erick Gutierrez a debt of gratitude. Talavera made the mistake that allowed Fiji to go 1-0 up on Mexico Sunday, and for a while it looked like Fiji might pull out the Olympic upset to end all Olympic upsets.
ME QUIERO VOLVER CHANGO GOOLLL DE #FIJ Talavera por amor de dios TALAVERAAAAAA#MEX 0 Fiji 1 #SomosMexico pic.twitter.com/ciRNmZ8HXg
— 90 Minuts Mexico (@90minutosMex) August 7, 2016
Throughout the rest of the half, Mexico created few scoring chances. At the break, it looked like Fiji might just hang on for the upset. Then, three minutes into the second half, Gutierrez found the back of the net after Carlos Cisneros placed the ball to him at the top of the penalty box.
#ReviveElGol del empate con el que inició su cuenta el tuzo Erick Gutiérrez.#MEX 1-1 #FIJ#Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/WCObKF2yLg
— TABASCO HOY (@TabascoHOY) August 7, 2016
From then on, it was the Erick Gutierrez show:
#2T ¡Así el doblete de @GutiGalaviz! ¡Ahora con la zurda! #SomosMéxico https://t.co/D4ecybKdY0
— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) August 7, 2016
¡VOLTERETA Y HAT-TRICK! #MEX @GutiGalaviz anda con todo. ¡Ya hizo 3! Y @miseleccionmx está arriba 3-1 sobre Fiti. https://t.co/ecR5HJ9Oqd
— Cancha & Glamour (@CanchayGlamour) August 7, 2016
Then Carlos Salcedo got in on the action.
#2T ¡Y así cayó el 4to! @csalcedojr empuja tras remate de @OribePeralta y aumenta nuestra ventaja.#SomosMéxico https://t.co/67axmWb4XG
— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) August 7, 2016
Gutierrez wasn't done scoring, though. His fourth was the nicest of the day, a perfect chip over the goalie.
2T ¡GOOOOLAZO! @GutiGalaviz! firma el 1-5 y el cuarto en su cuenta personal.#SomosMéxico https://t.co/omaWJr7omN
— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) August 7, 2016
Mexico will almost certainly advance to the knockout round now. Their next game is against South Korea on Wednesday.
Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus
