Gambia and Mexico put on a great display of football in what was, in my opinion, the best game of the FIFA under-20 World Cup so far. Although started the game more strongly than their African opponents it did not take long for Gambia to find their feet.
If it wasn’t for Mexico’s keeper Blanco, Gambia might have led at half time. Blanco pulled off two terrific saves to make sure that when half time arrived the game would still be scoreless.
Gambia started the second half as they had finished the first and when Mexico took the lead it was against the run of play. As a loose ball bounced on the left edge of the Gambian penalty box Giovanni Dos Santos pivoted a cracked a left shot past keeper Joe Gomez and into the roof of the net. A great and unexpected strike from Dos Santos, who had been up to that point in the game, restricted to a single shot.
Still Gambia pushed forward as the team teams traded attacks but after Mexico scored a second goal with a little over twenty minutes left there was no way back for the Gambians. The second goal was scored by defender Moreno but only after the first three Mexican attempts had hit the post, been cleared off the line and parried by the goalkeeper.
Although Gambia continued to push forward it was with less conviction. And given the critical importance of goal difference in deciding the best third place finishers it may turn out to be the most pragmatic course of action.
As the Gambian legs grew tired Mexico scored a third to put them top of the group. Javier Hernandez had come into the game as a late substitute and after running across the Gambian defence he was able to roll the ball into an empty net.
Here’s hoping that the third goal does not come back to haunt Gambia. The tournament could do with their spirit and commitment to attacking football in the knock out rounds.
Stand outs for Mexico were Dos Santos (based on his goal alone) and Villaluz. Gambia got great performances from defender Pierre Gomez, Bojang and Jallow.
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I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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