Mexico Tie Chile in Fast-Paced Game Lacking Only Goals

by Luke James

So far soccer in the 49ers Levi’s Stadium has felt a bit like kids accidentally locked overnight in a jellybean factory. At least with the arrival of the Mexico fans for the first international soccer friendly played at the stadium the kids were running the machinery.

Levi’s Stadium for this Mexico versus Chile game wasn’t anywhere near as thunderous as the Azteca. This was probably partly due to the stadium policy on what fans can bring with them and there may well have been piles of drums and trumpets outside the gates.

Mexico head coach Miguel Herrera was quoted earlier this week is saying that everyone started at zero but then fielded a team that had 7 of his World Cup starting 11. Chile also fielded much the same team as they used in the World Cup in Brazil.

As the teams struggled to find their rhythms and establish dominance it was soon clear that Chile were using a more patient, passing approach to the game, whereas Mexico were relying on interceptions and the fast-break.

Chile looked to settle first and Alexi Sanchez had the game’s first clear shot on goal but it skidded just wide. Generally the first 15 minutes were sloppy in terms of possession. In the 18^th minute Arturo Vidal had a fine header tipped over the bar by an equally great save by Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa.

By the 25^th minute Mexico had set their offensive line a good 10 yards higher up the field and began picking off Chilean passes. This led to several chances close to goal with Chile finding it hard for a while to get the ball out of defense.

Chile having fielded no real out and out strikers were utilizing Vidal and Sanchez from the midfield to drift into attacking positions. The back-and-forth nature of the game was exciting t watch and the 67,175 crowd made enough noise for the head coaches instructions to be reduced to semaphore arm signals.

In the 31^st minute Isla shot wide for Chile who were showing great ball movement but were missing the final touch in the area. For all the fast pace and end-to-end play there was little physicality to the game. Mexico’s Aguilar drew a yellow card for a late tackle on Vidal in the 39^th minute, and just before half time Chile’s Mena was yellow carded for a foul that didn’t really merit a card.

HT 0-0.

The second half began in a far more physical way and this was to be an increasing feature as the half progressed. The 56th minute produced perhaps the best chance of the game for Chile when Sanchez played a great pass to Millar whose shot was brilliantly saved by Mexican keeper Ochoa.

From a distance Ochoa’s outfit might make him look a little like there’s a beloved Disney character in goal but there’s nothing Mickey Mouse about this guy’s goalkeeping abilities.

Over the course of the last 30 minutes the game degenerated increasingly into late tackles and desperate shots from distance as both teams sought the winning glory goal. Passing accuracy was out the window and over the hills far away, presumably making a run for the training ground.

Chile looked the more disciplined of the two sides but Mexico still failed to find that final thrust on goal to put the ball in the net.

The game ended 0-0 leaving Yannick Djalo of the San Jose Earthquakes as still the only player to score a goal at the Levi’s stadium with the game winner he hit in August against the Seattle Sounders.

Final score 0-0