Copa America 2020 Group A: Mexican Rout Hosts to Set Up Tense Match Day Three

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Mexican Rout Hosts to Set Up Tense Match Day Three

June 23, 2020

Colombia 1 Mexico 6

 

Mexico snagged six goals on their return to form against Copa America 2020 hosts Colombia to establish a tight final Match Day in Group A.

 

Colombia needed to change Edwin Cardona out for Gustavo Cuéllar. Jose Macías made way for Raul Jiménez in the hope Mexico would bounce back from their Peruvian draw.

 

Colombia looked the goods early as Daniel Zapata set up James Rodríguez, only for the fellow to miss to the left of goal.

 

Instead, Mexico opened the scoring with Hector Herrera running down the left wing. His perfect cross found the head of Jesús Manuel Corona, who made no mistake from close range.

 

Orbelin Pineda nearly made it two goals with his long-range shot hitting the post, and Colombia had their backs against the wall trying to halt the Mexican advances. They did have two shots via Juan Cuadrado, only for the midfielder to loop the shot over the crossbar and miss both of them to the left.

 

Down the Mexican end, Luis Rodríguez had a shot miss to the right. However, Jiménez made no mistake with his head as the cross from right wing of Jonathan dos Santos found him in the ideal spot. Jiménez looped the ball over the Colombian goalkeeper, and gave Mexico a vital two-goal lead, something they also had in the first match.

 

Colombia needed to do what Peru did and come back from two goals down, and Zapata looked likely to score, only he fired wide of the mark. Yerry Mina then rose at the resulting corner, only to miss the mark. Similarly, Jiménez also missed a key header off a corner. Luis Rodríguez also set up Jiménez, only to have the volley blocked with ease.

 

After the break, Jiménez instead added a third goal as he outsmarted two defenders while advancing, and with his left foot shot low into goal.

 

James Rodríguez sought to wrestle back a goal to save face, only to miss to the same side as before. He then chipped the Mexican goalkeeper, hitting the post. Finally, he managed to work into a good position, where he was passed the ball, and he made sure Colombia had a goal.

 

However, Mexico did not let up, and Pineda was found alone on the box. His second touch ensured a fourth for the Central American side, and with 33 minutes remaining, it felt Mexico had the win in the bag.

 

Substitute Luis Romo then made it five after Mexico halted any of Colombia’s advances. His long-range shot sent the home crowd silent while Mexico’s fans were beyond elation.

 

Cardona, Colombia’s substitute, had a shot from similar range, only for the deft hand to save the ball. James Rodríguez missed yet again, this time with his head.

 

The final ten minutes saw the Colombian goalkeeper give away a penalty. Player of the Match Jiménez chipped the ball down the middle to earn a whopping sixth goal for his side.

 

This result countered their 5-0 drubbing against Russia at the World Cup, where they were able to win by five goals against a host nation, and that nation was the World Cup champions.

 

Mexico, despite the significant win, looked to give Rodolfo Pizarro a break.