6 July 2007, by Marco Pereira

FIFA U-20 World Cup: Mexico dent Portugal’s progress

Portugal 1-2 Mexico

Portugal suffered a setback in their attempt to qualify for the elimination round of the U-20 World Cup when they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Mexico.

Second-half goals by Dos Santos and Barrera gave the Mexicans a two-goal lead, and a late consolation goal by Antunes could not prevent the loss.

Couceiro: “Mexico coach said we’ll meet again in the final.”

The first half was a defensive game of chess as both teams were trying to feel the other out without producing any clear-cut opportunities. At times the game became feisty as three yellow cards were handed out, one to Mexico’s Villaluz and the other two to Portugal’s Pele and Fabio Coentrao. Coentrao’s card means that the Benfica winger will miss the game against Gambia on Sunday.

Mexico provided the highlight of the opening half in the 36th minute when Dos Santos took advantage of a Paulo Renato slip and crossed to Juarez in the box, who hit his strike over the crossbar.

Debatable penalty

The second half started with much more excitement as Mexico were awarded a questionable penalty in the 47th minute as Rentao was adjudged to have taken Dos Santos down in the box. The tussle between the two started well outside the area with Dos Santos grabbing hold of Rentao’s jersey before falling inside the Portugal box.

The match official pointed to the spot, much to the chagrin of the Portuguese, and the same player picked himself up to convert the penalty, sending Patricio the wrong way.

Portugal reacted well to the setback as Coentrao had an effort from the edge of Mexico’s box that flew just wide of the far post. Bruno Gama then had an effort in the 54th minute from close range but his shot was blocked by a Mexican defender.

Play switched to the other end of the pitch and Moreno tried to fool the officials by blatantly using his hand to deflect a corner kick into the net. The referee spotted the offence and called the goal back, but surprisingly did not issue the respective yellow card.

Scissor kick

Portugal penned the Mexicans back with a series of corners, and substitute Guedes almost scored a spectacular goal shortly after coming on but his scissor kick just went over the crossbar.

But it was the Mexicans who struck next in the 66th minute as second-half substitute Barerra made no mistake when he hammered a Dominguez cross into the net to make it 2-0.

Mexico almost went three up in the 71st minute, but Renato produced a sharp clearance to kick a Dos Santos effort off the line. Guedes was proving a handful for the Mexican defence and he almost reduced Portugal’s deficit in the 76th minute when his header was brilliantly pushed over the bar by Blanco.

In the 89th minute Antunes gave Portugal hope of salvaging a point. The Pacos de Ferreira defender unleashed a cracker of a left footed strike from a free kick to make the score 2-1.

But the goal came too late and Portugal now fly to Montreal needing a point from their third and final match of the opening round against Gambia in order to qualify for the next round.

Portugal: Patricio, Mano, Paulo Renato, Joao Pedro, Antunes, Nuno Coelho, Bruno Gama, Pele (Feliciano Condesso, 69), Pereirinha (Guedes, 57), Zequinha (Zezinando, 74), Fabio Coentrao
Yellow Cards: Fabio Coentrao (15), Pele (24)

Mexico:
Blanco, Araujo, Juarez, Moreno, Esparaza, Hernandez (Silva, 90), Vela, Dos Santos (Guerrero, 85), Dominguez, Aldrete, Villaluz (Barerra, 66)
Yellow Cards: Villaluz (9), Aldrete (67), Dos Santos (73), Barrera (89)

Goals:
[0-1] Dos Santos, 48 (pen)
[0-2] Barrera, 66
[1-2] Antunes, 89

Related: Portugal 2-0 New Zealand
Related: Portugal fixtures / Group standings