Mexico and Japan tied 0-0 Saturday in a preparation match for the North American World Cup 2026 Played at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in California.
As soon as the game began and the Japanese squad put in predicaments the Mexican team with a vertical and vertiginous game. In hand in hand, Asian players wore superior.
The best opportunity of the first half reached the 11th minute, when the Japanese Takefusa Kubo end connected a satin and powerful shot from the outside the area that was stopped by the Azteca goalkeeper, Ángel Malagón.
Mexico developed its first offensive play until the 22nd minute, but could not finish it with a door shot.
The Tri level the game at the start of the second half, with greater presence and game in Japanese territory.
At 53, Takumi Minamino launched a volley inside the area. The Mexican response came immediately with a shot that Roberto Alvarado sent over the crossbar.
The Tri finally demanded from the Japanese goalkeeper, Zion Suzuki, who diverted a header from érik Lira to the 67th minute.
On the last goal of the Azteca team, which reached 88, the Argentine-Mexican Germán Berterame crossed a shot to the side of the left post.
Mexico finished the game with ten players for the expulsion of the Defense César Montes in the discounts (90+2).
Annoyed by the goalless draw, the Mexican fans booed their selection at the end of the game.
“I think the result is fair,” said Javier Aguirre, Mexico coach, at conference. “In my opinion it was a very matched party; the first part was them and in the second we were a little better.”
“The speed surprised us, and its intensity: they made us 20 fouls,” Aguirre said about the Japanese players. “I knew they are very intense. I met their coach when I was there, I made them run, put, be very competitive, and 90 percent play in Europe, then they have a different level of training.”
In turn, Hajime Moriyasu, Japan coach commented that “Mexico was very disciplined and very difficult to break. ” 2 I was not surprised how the Javier Aguirre party raised, “he added.
On Tuesday, Mexico will have another preparation match at the Geodis Park stadium, in Nashville, Tennessee, against South Korea, which on Saturday beat the United States 2-0 in another friendly game, in Harrison, New Jersey, with a goal and an assistance of its star, the former English former are Heung-min.
On the other hand, also on Tuesday, Japan will be rival of the United States at the Lower.com Field stadium, in Columbus, Ohio.
ALIGNMENTS:
Mexico: Ángel Malagón – Jorge Sánchez, César Montes, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo – Edson Álvarez (Erik Lira, 31), Marcel Ruiz (Carlos Rodríguez, 81) – Roberto Alvarado (Germán Berterame, 61), Orbelín Pineda (Érick Sánchez, 61), Alexis Vega (Hirving Lozano, 60) – Raúl Jiménez (Santiago Giménez, 61). DT: Javier Aguirre.
Japan: Zion Suzuki – Ayumu Seko, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Kou Itakura (Hiroki Sekine, 60) – Daichi Kamada (Sano Kaishu, 69), Wataru endo – Ritsu Doan (Shuto Machino, 81), Takefusa Kubo (Daizen Maeda, 69), Takumi Minamino (Juny 69), Kaoru Mitoma (Yuito Suzuki, 81) – Ayase EUEDA. DT: Hajime Moriyasu.
