Mexico: QF-bound

With a performance that was at times brilliant and at times nail-biting, El Tri qualified for the Quarterfinals of the Copa America today, defeating a strong Ecuador side 2-1. Nery Castillo continued his run of good form by scoring the opener in the 22nd minute and Omar Bravo made a welcomed substitute appearance, scoring his first goal of the tournament in the 80th minute. Although Ecuador threatened several times and will be cursing Mexican keeper Oswaldo Sanchez, Edison Mendez did manage to score in the 85th, thanks mainly to a terrible deflection off Johnny Magallon.

The primary thing I took from the game was just how important Nery Castillo has quickly become for the National Team. For all the criticism that rained on him from all sides when he finally declared to play for Mexico, the Olympiakos man appears to have taken everything in stride, and is thriving under the pressure. He was Mexico's best player in the Copa Oro final and is now 2-2 in this tournament.

Amazingly, there was a large portion of the media in Mexico who were criticizing Castillo before the Copa Oro started, and then again after his ill-informed comments after he was not even on the bench for the Copa Oro Semifinal. Eligible to play for three different nations on three different continents, Castillo finally decided to play for Mexico last fall. When he pulled out of the Mexico squad just days before he was scheduled to make his debut in Phoenix against the USA, it was widely reported that he had had a change of heart and was going to accept Greece's offer of 1 million euros to play for them.

I agree that it was stupid of him to threaten with returning to Greece after Sanchez left him in the stands for the Guadalupe game in the Copa Oro, but whatever Hugo said to him after those comments were aired has seemed to work, for he has come back with a vengeance. I wouldn't be at all surprised if a big-money move to one of the major European leagues happens this summer or in the January transfer window.

The other main thing that stuck out from this game was Mexico's inability to maintain the attacking impulse with which they opened. It happened against Brazil, too, but was less nerve-wracking because they already had a two-goal advantage. Mexico started both games really well, attacking and controlling the ball, and managed to score relatively early in both games. However, in the second half they seem to take their foot off the gas: Ochoa had a number of amazing saves against Brazil, and tonight Oswaldo definitely showed why he's nicknamed San Oswaldo in Mexico. With a lesser keeper in goal tonight, Mexico would have lost this game by some margin. They will need to work on maintaining their intensity if they really plan on achieving things.

Lastly, I must admit that El Jorobado Blanco's pass to Omar Bravo was one of the more amazing pieces of skill I've ever seen on a soccer field. I've never been a huge Cuau fan, but he absolutely showed tonight why there are those in Mexico who consider him Mexico's best player right now, and one of the best Mexico has ever produced. Remember, that was Temoc's first touch of the ball...