The Mexican National Team began the U.S. leg of its World Cup preparations with a drab 0-0 tie in the first international soccer event and first official sell-out at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
A crowd of 77,507 was left disappointed by a Mexican team which was missing its European elements and could not generate many dangerous attacks.
“It wasn’t that we were missing the goals, but it was the lack of goal scoring opportunities,” said Mexican Head Coach Javier Aguirre. “Our offensive production was poor for the entire game. The Mexican National Team is designed to attack, attack and attack and to generate more chances to score.
“All the energy we invested to win the ball back, we missed that around the penalty area,” Aguirre continued. “The team wanted to play and give a spectacle, but in the end we could not.”
While Mexico enjoyed a great deal of possession, it could not find a way to penetrate a well organized Ecuador squad. Manchester United’s recent signing Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez was rarely dangerous at forward for Mexico although the service was also poor. Aguirre said he counted four or five half-chances all game.
Ecuador’s manager, Sixto Vizuete, said he watched video of Mexico’s recent matches and knew what it took to stop El Tri, which plays South Africa, France and Uruguay in Group A of the World Cup.
“We saw that on the wings they had young guys who are very fast,” Vizuete said. “Our plan was to clog the flanks and our players used physical play to suffocate the ability of the Mexicans. But Mexico will improve a lot. The Europeans will arrive and they’ll get better. I wish success to Aguirre, who’s a great coach with great players.”
Ecuador arguably had the most dangerous scoring opportunity of the game in the 74th minute when Mexico goalkeeper Luis Ernesto Michel charged off his line to stop a shot. The rebound fell to Ecuador’s left winger, Michael Arroyo, who dribbled past Michel near the top of the box. Only a sliding block by retreating Mexican midfielder Israel Castro stopped Arroyo's shot from finding the back of the net.
The South Americans, who celebrated the 100th cap of midfielder Ulises De La Cruz, have their focus set on a new World Cup cycle in a region where qualifying is the most difficult in the world, according to Vizuete.
“We introduced new players and we got a great result,” Vizuete said. “It’s not everyday you can tie or beat Mexico … Everyday we’re going to improve and we have big aspirations and hopes to qualify for the next World Cup.”
The Mexicans, meanwhile, acknowledged they have serious work ahead of them before they open the World Cup in the inaugural match against South Africa on June 11. One positive for El Tri was that Andres Guardado recovered from injury and played the last 14 minutes of the game. However, Aguirre was very frank in assessing his team’s performance.
“There were lapses we played poorly, when we had some poor circulation of the ball and when there weren’t clear ideas in attack,” he said. “But the commitment and attitude was there."
Ecuador stays in the USA to play MLS club Philadelphia Union in a scrimmage on Tuesday.
El Tri next moves to Chicago for another sold out match at Soldier Field against Senegal on May 10. They wrap up their U.S. World Cup preparation tour against Angola on May 13 at Reliant Stadium.
“We have to move forward from this,” Aguirre said. “It was the first step and things have to get better but there’s time.”
Mexico (4-3-3): Luis Ernesto Michel - Paul Aguilar, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Jonny Magallon, Jorge Torres Nilo - Efrain Juarez, Gerardo Torrado (C), Israel Castro (76' Andres Guardado) - Cuauhtemoc Blanco (61' Adolfo Bautista), Javier Hernandez, Alberto Medina (61' Pablo Barrera)
Ecuador (4-4-2): Marcelo Elizaga - Miguel Ibarra, Marcelo Fleitas, Ivan Hurtado (C), Geovanny Nazareno - Oswaldo Minda, Fernandes Hidalgo, Ulises De La Cruz, Michael Arroyo (90' Pedro Quinonez) - Ivan Kaviedes (85' Edison Preciado), Michael Quinonez (69' Joao Rojas)
Booked: 57' Oswaldo Minda (ECU)
Ejected: none
Referee: Steve DePiero; Assistants: Tom Supple, Adam Wienckowski; 4th Official: Jorge Gonzalez
Attendance: 77,507
