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Mexico downs Argentina, Uruguay tops Ecuador at Copa America

CHICLAYO, Peru (AP) -- Argentina was brought back to reality with a 1-0 loss to Mexico at the Copa America on Saturday and will clash with 14-time champion Uruguay for a place in the quarter-finals.

Uruguay topped Ecuador 2-1 in the early match at Elias Aguirre Stadium and finished the night atop the Group B standings with Mexico on four points, followed by Argentina with three, and Ecuador none.

Only 72 hours after scoring six goals on Ecuador, Argentina was whitewashed by a stubborn Mexican defence, despite dominating play.

In the ninth minute, Ramon Morales bent his 25-metre free kick into the upper right corner and gave goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri no chance, and Mexico held on to beat Argentina for the first time since a 1990 friendly.

Referee Marcio Rezende called the free kick after Argentina's Luis Gonzalez brought down Jesus Arellano with a slide tackle from behind.

"My boys fought hard for this victory," said Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe. "I was born in Argentina, but I've lived in Mexico for 25 years and this was a game I wanted to win."

Argentina's relentless attack frequently threatened to score. In the 16th minute, Luis Gonzalez's shot flew over the crossbar, and a minute later a Javier Zanetti attempt rolled across the goal area untouched.

But Mexico counter attacked effectively, and its sagging defence made Argentina's offence work overtime.

"We couldn't penetrate Mexico's back line. We had seven or eight clear chances on goal and we should have been more effective," said Argentina coach Marcelo Biela. "I'm not sure many teams could withstand allowing a team that many chances."

Mexico defender Rafael Marquez constantly shadowed Argentina's Javier Saviola, who scored three goals in the team's opener and is the tournament's leading scorer. Both players are teammates with Spain's FC Barcelona.

Roberto Ayala nearly tied it in the 58th but his powerful header was turned aside in a reflex save by goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez. Ayala's shot followed another by Cesar Delgado moments before that went into the side netting after Sanchez came off his line.

Earlier, Uruguay's Carlos Bueno broke a 1-1 deadlock in the 79th minute, poking in a rebound over prone Ecuador goalkeeper Oswaldo Ibarra for his second goal of the tournament.

Manchester United striker Diego Forlan opened the scoring for Uruguay on a solo run up the middle and blasted in from 23 metres out in the 61st, but Ecuador replacement forward Franklin Salas equalized in the 73rd on a cross from Ulises de La Cruz.

The victory was the 99th in Copa history for Uruguay, which will play Argentina at Piura on Tuesday in a meeting between the Copa's greatest winners.

Forlan called the win "important, although we can't celebrate yet. We still have to think about Argentina."

Uruguay was far more assertive after its opening 2-2 draw with Mexico, and Ecuador also was much improved after its 6-1 beating from Argentina, but didn't deserve to win on the run of play.

"We're improving, especially tactically," said Uruguay coach Jorge Fossati. "We played well and we're reaching the objective we set coming into the Copa, which was to find our rhythm and leave behind our recent disastrous results," in World Cup qualifying.

Uruguay dominated the last hour from the time Paolo Montero's header off Dario Rodriguez's corner hit the far post.

Rodriguez headed a free kick over the bar, and two more corners either side of halftime were squandered, to the mounting frustration of Uruguay.

Then Forlan scored, taking the leadership role he asked for by playing in the Copa instead of resting like most of his fellow European-based pros. He was replaced seven minutes later but appeared to have put Uruguay on course.

Until a cross from Ecuador's de La Cruz glanced back off an Uruguay defender and found Salas free in front of goal to smack it in and tie the score 1-1.

However, Uruguay continued to pepper Ibarra, and the deciding goal came 11 minutes from the end when Vicente Sanchez's hard shot from the edge of the box was parried by Ibarra, and Bueno was quickest to the loose ball for the game-winner.

Source : Sunmedia.ca

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