Marquez goal lifts Mexico to win over US

Mexico skipper Rafael Marquez scored an 89th-minute winner as the United States crashed to their first World Cup qualifying defeat on home soil in 15 years with a 2-1 loss here Friday.
Marquez, 37, headed home a Miguel Layun corner in the dying minutes of a pulsating battle to end the USA’s long record of dominance at Columbus’s Mapfre Stadium, where they had beaten Mexico in the past four World Cup cycles.
Marquez’s goal came after the US had clawed their way back into the contest with a Bobby Wood equalizer on 49 minutes after Layun’s 20th-minute goal put Mexico 1-0 up.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s side had looked the likeliest to take all three points but instead it was Marquez who struck to snatch Mexico’s first ever qualifying win over the United States at their Columbus stronghold.
“There’s nothing I can complain about the team, they gave everything they had, they kept the tempo high, we had enough chances to put it away, but we didn’t,” US coach Klinsmann said afterwards.
Mexico goalscorer Layun said ‘El Tri’ had been worthy winners.
“We deserved the three points. It puts us in a good position,” Layun said. “We were focused on this. That’s why we got the three points.”
The result gives Mexico the early initiative in the CONCACAF region’s six-team final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The United States now face a testing trip to Costa Rica on Tuesday needing to pick themselves up after a shattering loss.
The match took place against the backdrop of the US presidential election won by Donald Trump on Tuesday after a campaign which included rhetoric against Mexican immigrants.
However fans from both sides mingled before kick-off, adamant that politics would not poison the atmosphere.
Mexico had the better of a frenetic first half, rattling US nerves after only 10 minutes when Jesus Corona cut in from the left and saw his shot tipped against the woodwork after a diving save from Tim Howard.
At the other end, the US threatened sporadically but were unable to find the breakthrough, with Jozy Altidore’s 20th minute header easily gathered by Mexico goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera.
Moments later Mexico took the lead. Again it was an attack that began down the left flank, Layun pouncing on a loose ball near the edge of the area and driving a low shot which took a slight deflection as it flew past Howard.
The US were rocked and Mexico almost doubled their tally five minutes later when Corona’s cross was met with a glancing header from Carlos Vela which crashed back off the crossbar.
Rojas double lifts New Zealand World Cup campaign
Marco Rojas bagged a double as New Zealand downed New Caledonia 2-0 to claim the first leg of their Oceania third-round World Cup qualifier in Auckland on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Melbourne Victory midfielder found the net just before half-time and again in the 72nd minute when he latched on to a back heel from his captain and Leeds striker Chris Wood.
Wood was central to the New Zealand attack and after the game had drifted along for the first 30 minutes he ignited a late flurry toward the close of the first half.
After his own shot rebounded off the right post, he then fed Kosta Barbarouses who also hit the post before Rojas latched on to a deflection from Wood to weave past three defenders to score.
Wood expected the scrappy opening as the New Zealanders reunited for their World Cup campaign and said once they settled down they found the net.
“The first 10-15 minutes were always going to be a bit nervy, getting back into the campaign, World Cup qualifier there’s a lot on the line but the boys settled down after 20 and showed what we’re about,” he said.
“We hit the post on a couple of occasions and it could have been clear going into the half but that’s the way it goes sometimes, you don’t get those breaks. But we went in 1-0 up and we’re happy.”
Georges Gope-Fenepej tested New Zealand keeper Stefan Marinovic (SpVgg Unterhaching) in the first half and Cesar Zeoula went close three times when New Caledonia upped the tempo at the start of the second spell.
But the New Zealand resistance held and they were able to regain control in the final quarter when Rojas scored his second from close range.
The return leg will be played in New Caledonia on Tuesday.
The winner of the Oceania qualifying tournament will play the fifth-ranked South American side in an intercontinental play-off late next year to decide which team goes to Russia in 2018.

Source: Arab News