New Zealand have been beaten 3-0 by a stylish Mexico side in their men’s international friendly at California’s Rose Bowl Stadium.
The All Whites were always on the back foot after falling behind early, and the Mexicans made sure of the result with two goals in a four-minute spell in the second half.
New Zealand had a horror start to the game, conceding a goal after only four minutes of play.
Winger Luis Romo weaved down the left and crossed to Roberto Alvarado on the far side of the New Zealand area.
He deftly headed the ball down and into the patch of Orbelin Pineda who steered it just wide of a diving Max Crocombe.
Cheered on by a partisan crowd at the Rose Bowl Stadium, the Mexicans were clearly enjoying themselves, playing their way through and around a New Zealand side struggling to settle.
Main photo: A forlorn Max Crocombe after New Zealand conceded their second goal.
Goalkeeper Crocombe was kept busy.
In the 9th minute, he dived to his left to save 22-metre shot from Santiago Gimenez.
In the 16th minute, he had to block another shot from Gimenez, with an outstretched leg.
Midway through the half, Crocombe charged five metres out of his area, trying to cut off a threatening attack. The Mexicans were slow to take advantage of the defence in disarray, and their opportunity went begging.
A planned drinks break to combat the 40-degree heat gave the All Whites chance to regroup, and they were much improved for the rest of the first spell.
From there, the All Whites started to work their way into the match
New Zealand’s first goal chance came from a corner that whizzed through the box, taking a Mexican deflection as the ball flew across the face of the goal.
Tommy Smith lunged at the ball and failed by centimetres to get the touch that would have levelled the score.
As the half went into added time, New Zealand midfielder Matt Garbett forced goalkeeper Raúl Rangel into making his first save of the game.
In the last attack before the break, Mexico’s Romo hit the post when Crocombe opened his body, forcing the winger to shoot across the face of the goal.
Two minutes into the second half, Pineda darted into the New Zealand box to divert a cross with the outside of his boot and onto the near post, with the ball rebounding to safety.
Mexico doubled their lead in the 53rd minute when substitute Cesar Huerta scored with his first touch of the game, having been on the pitch for little more than a minute.
He was ideally placed to meet a cross from the right, sliding it into the net from close.
A minute later, Huerta could have scored his second goal when he beat the offside trap to break clear with only Crocombe to beat. He steered his shot wide of the New Zealand upright.
In the 57th minute, Romo extended the lead to three goals with a shot from the edge of the area that took a deflection off Libby Cacace and sneaked inside the post.
Huerta had another chance in the 76th minute, cannoning his shot into the ground for the ball to bounce over the crossbar.
Both coaches used their full quota of six substitutes, as the game petered towards its inevitable result.
New Zealand will head to Cincinnati for Wednesday’s match against the United States, and the chance to learn lessons from the Rose Bowl.
Result
Game played Sunday September 8, 2024 (NZT)
Mexico 3 (Orbelin Pineda 5’, Cesar Huerta 53’, Luis Romo 57’)
New Zealand 0
Line-ups
Mexico
Raúl Rangel, Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, Israel Reyes, Jesus Gallardo (Jesus Angulo 71’), Quinones Julian (Cesar Huerta 52’), Orbelin Pineda (Sebastian Cordova 60’), Roberto Alvarado (Diego Lainez 60’), Luis Romo (Carlos Rodriguez 71’), Luis Chávez, Santiago Gimenez (Henry Martin 61’)
Subs not used: Luis Malagon, Álex Padilla, Victor Guzman, Alan Mozo Rodríguez, Julian Araujo, Marcelo Flores, Erik Lira, Fidel Ambríz, Guillermo Martinez.
New Zealand
Max Crocombe, Tim Payne (Bill Tuiloma 65’), Michael Boxall (captain), Liberato Cacace, Tommy Smith (Nando Pijnaker 81’), Matt Garbett, Kosta Barbarouses (Logan Rogerson 81’), Ben Old (Elijah Just 65’), Joe Bell (Alex Rufer 71’), Marko Stamenic, Chris Wood (Ben Waine 70’).
Subs not used: Alex Paulsen, Oli Sail, Sam Sutton, Finn Surman.
Officials
Referee: Joe Dickerson (United States)
Assistant referees: Felisha Mariscal (United States), Chris Elliott (United States)
Fourth official: Servando Berna Rico (United States)
Fixture
Game to be played Wednesday September 11, 2024 (NZT)
United States v New Zealand
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio, 11am (NZT)
This story was first published on September 8, 2024.
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