Double bull: Tevez powers Argies ahead
The Fifa World Cup pre-quarterfinal between Argentina and Mexico at the Soccer City Stadium can best be summarised by what transpired in the media shuttle following the match. A South African journalist asked a bunch of Mexican scribes what went wrong? The answer came in unison “The first goal!”
A controversial strike by Carlos Tevez, who was offside by a country mile, took the sheen off Argentina’s 3-1 win over an energetic Mexico on Sunday night. With this win Diego Maradona’s men booked a quarterfinal date with Joechim Loew’s Germany.
Mexico had the better of the early exchanges as the woodwork and the flawed Jabulani ball kept things level. In the 8th minute centreback Carlos Salcido unleashed a 30-yard piledriver that beat Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero but bounced off the crossbar and rebounded to safety.
A minute later Andres Guardado struck a low left-footer from the edge of the penalty box that left Romero flat-footed, however, the Jabulani ball swerved away at the final nanosecond to go fizzing past the post.
Argentina pulled ahead thanks to a fortunate goal in which the linesman failed to spot a clear offside. Messi released the ball for Tevez, but it was overhit and Mexico goalkeeper Oscar Perez came out of his line and thwarted the attack. The ball rebounded to Messi who delicately chipped the ball goalwards.
Tevez, who was two yards ahead of the Mexican centrebacks when the ball was played, got the final touch with his head. The Mexicans surrounded linesman Stefano Ayroldi, and referee Roberto Rosetti had to intervene to calm the protesting players.
Still shaken by the linesman’s error, Mexico gifted a second goal to Argentina in the 32nd minute. A shocking pass by Ricardo Osorio, who played the ball straight into the path of Gonzalo Higuain on the edge of the penalty box, resulted in the Real Madrid striker getting his fourth goal of the tournament as he coolly rounded off the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the back of the net.
The Mexicans went into the break down two goals and as the teams were heading to the dressing room a scuffle almost broke out with Maradona playing the peacmaker.
The bone of contention was the referee’s calamitous non-call in Argentina’s first goal.
If Tevez’s first goal had an air of controversy, the second was a sublime piece of finishing. In the 52nd minute the Manchester City striker got the ball 25 yards out, but was quickly closed down by the Mexican defenders.
The ball hit the foot of one of the defenders and broke for Tevez giving him the space to shoot, and shoot he did as he struck an unstoppable 25-yard strike from the instep of his boot that flew straight into the top corner.
Mexico pulled a goal back in the 71st minute thanks to clever piece of skill from frontman Javier Hernandez, who had gone close with a header just five minutes back. The 22-year-old left Martin Demichelis for dead with a beautiful turn and then fired a low left-footer past Romero.
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