Mexico don lead Australia 1-0 at half-time for di friendly match wey dey happen for Rose Bowl for Pasadena. El Tri don dominate possession and control di game, but Australia nearly score before half-time whistle.
Mateo Chavez make mistake with header, Rangel come out of im goal, and di ball land for Australia striker foot with open goal from 20 metres, but im skew di effort wide. Chances no dey clearer dan dat for dis level.
Vega break down left, shift di ball inside, and Fidalgo hit target from 30 metres. Ryan save am, but dat na good hit.
Irvine rake im studs for Fidalgo Achilles, cause break for play. Shortly after, Australia concede possession for transition and Mexico head to left again. Mateo Chavez try cross twice, and for second time pick out teammate for edge of box, but space close down.
Australia belt ball clear but Toure no fit hold am. Aguirre dey stalk im technical area for all black like made man wey don drink too much espresso. Very Sopranos energy.
First standardised drinks break allow Popovic pass instructions as im side adjust to chasing game. Almost two! Vega whip free-kick menacingly with top spin. Vasquez get flick on wey Ryan parry for contact with upright, then Martinez dey for follow-up but im no fit redirect effort on target.
Italiano go into book for block on Chavez after misreading bounce of ball. Mexico continue to target left wing.
Popovic go be furious to concede from set piece. O'Neill no fit leap high enough to win header and Ryan perhaps fit do better for line. But Australia offer little for attack and concede five corners for opening half hour, inviting Mexico to perfect dia routine. Finally El Tri convert one of dia set-pieces. Vega with outswinging corner. Vasquez with header from penalty spot, angling am just wide of despairing Ryan and in off post.
Another corner to Mexico after threatening down right and Souttar having to sweep. Australia dey invite pressure. Australia drop guard for moment and Mexico get time to cross from right, pick out Vega for box, and im header force Ryan into tip over bar. Vega fit get more time dan im realise. Leckie head di resulting corner away for near post.
Chavez down left na Mexico main route to goal, and third corner of night earn when Italiano block im attempted cross. Dangerous delivery flick away by Metcalfe, then Bos go full Bale v Maicon! Incredible, kicking and chasing from inside im own half, skipping around outside of Chavez and almost regather am on halfway until despairing last-ditch hook of boot just about snuff out danger. Dat na thrilling from Bos.
Circati cover right channel to concede corner wey Leckie head away. Long range snapshot block before more dangerous cross curl over wey Herrington get im head to, then Irvine nod back to Ryan with plenty hearts for mouths due to proximity of skipper to keeper.
For possession, however, there be distinct lack of commitment to getting bodies forward and even with attacking throw-in there be almost no ambition to do anything other than return immediately to preset defensive formation. We don probably learn more from four unnamed subs dan 20 minutes of action so far. Other dan perhaps Popovic don drill im side out of possession to within inch of dia lives.
All Mexico still. Australia dey happy to absorb pressure then try spring forward on counter. Ryan claim cross for far post comfortably under pressure from Orbelin. Mexico continue to spray ball around, looking to shift Australia out of dia defensive structure but every player for gold so far don dey disciplined and avoid any notable errors – although Bos fortunate im pass into im own box collect by Circati and not Mexican.
Australia win free-kick for midfield and immediately slow game to walking pace. Metcalfe deliver deep, Souttar height cause panic, Herrington pick up crumbs and lay ball off to Irvine wey clip shot away just wide of post. Little ungainly and unsophisticated but Socceroos go potent from those situations for World Cup with such massive targetman.
Aguirre cut terrifying figure for touchline, bellowing instructions. Im side dey dominate possession and work ball briskly through midfield but Circati stand up well and almost turn defence into attack with some quick feet. Italiano don dey busy defending at right back as Mexico look to free Mateo Chavez. Frustrated at lack of success down dat route Luis Chávez wallop missile from range over bar.
Mexico then get back on ball and work some nice combinations down left but Souttar marshal im defensive crew well and Australia clear. Bos then dart at Mexican defence like Gareth Bale but he get ball nick away from im toe at last moment. WTF! Alvarez quite clearly drag back Toure as striker chase hopeful long ball forward. Obvious foul and possibly even red card depending on prospect of Toure collecting and running through one-on-one. Di referee no even blow im whistle. Incredible.
Australia get dia first look through some industrious work by Metcalfe and Toure but di latter cross too close to Rangel. Australia set up for 5-2-3 formation, happy to drop into mid-block and allow Mexico defence all possession dem wish. El Tri line up for 4-3-3, aiming to work ball through lines from back to front but happy to look for rangy Guillermo Martínez up top.
Australia deal with inswinger, clear, and Mexico begin dia structured build-up from back deep for dia own half. Mexico win free-kick on left almost immediately from kick-off. Delivery dangerous and second ball fall to black shirt but dia snapshot block by Souttar, then Italiano dey at point blank range for second effort wey deflect wide for corner.
We dey under way for Pasadena… Advance Australia Fair mumble politely by few dozen hardy souls before Himno Nacional Mexicano absolutely belt out by tens of thousands of Mexican fans. Rousing tune and give full treatment by Javier Aguirre and im troops. Dem moments go quite spectacle during World Cup for Mexico City.
VAR dey operation today, and there go be mandatory drinks breaks to replicate World Cup conditions. Out walk di two teams into vast Rose Bowl. Australia dey wear dia latest iteration of gold and green. Mexico by contrast black out from shoulder to ankle for absolute beauty of uniform.
