In Javier Aguirre’s return, the Tri beats New Zealand

Mexico is a team full of questions that Javier Aguirre tries hard to answer. His automatic response is balance. Without that value, which has become so recurrent in his press conferences, the national coach does not imagine things will improve for the Tricolor. The victory against New Zealand (3-0), at the start of his third stage in charge, cleared the tension accumulated by the failures in the Copa America and the Concacaf Nations League.

Although it was a friendly match, the relief of winning was a priceless prize for the Mexicans, the first step in a rebuilding phase. What remains to be resolved is the mood of the people. The organizers at the Rose Bowl stadium in California invited boxer from Guadalajara, Saúl Canelo Álvarez, to be in charge of throwing the opening toss, knowing that there was little demand for tickets. But even that could not hide the empty stands in a stadium accustomed to being full during the visits of the Tricolor.

The first big thrill of the night was the goal scored by Orbelín Pineda, a player whose skill is capable of creating spaces where it seems they do not exist. The AEK Athens midfielder completed a triangle that Luis Romo and Roberto Alvarado started to make it 1-0 with a low shot that hit the post (4). If football is a state of mind, as former Argentine footballer Jorge Valdano says, Mexico brought down the low morale of weak New Zealand.

With the help of Rafael Márquez and Tony Amor in the decision-making, Aguirre fixed the current flaws. In every throw-in or corner kick there was at least one comment from El Vasco that made the flag-bearer laugh, a signal from Márquez to the central defenders or a shout of support from Amor to the midfielders. Everything was executed with the necessary rigor of urgency. Proof that luck was on his side, the national coach brought César Huerta onto the field in the second half and, immediately, found the second goal (53).

Chino forgot about his usual duties at Pumas, staying very close to the wing, and defined like a center forward at the first opportunity he had in front of goalkeeper Max Crocombe (53). Players and members of the Mexican coaching staff jumped from the bench to celebrate loudly, looking towards the stands. The final blow came shortly after, when Luis Romo crowned a new attack by his team with the goal open (57).

The only bad note in Aguirre’s notebook was the injury of Colombian-Mexican Julián Quiñones, who could not finish the match due to discomfort in his right thigh.