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Mexico beat New Zealand 2-0 in World Cup warmup

Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela both scored in the space of five minutes to lift Mexico to a 2-0 victory over New Zealand in a World Cup warm-up match for both teams.

Hernandez’s goal in the 53rd minute marked the second straight match in which he has scored for Mexico, after he produced two goals in a 5-0 victory over Bolivia in San Francisco last week.

The 21-year-old, who is the leading goal-scorer in Mexico’s fist division with eight goals in seven games for Chivas Guadalajara, opened the scoring as he headed a cross from Carlos Salcido past New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss.

Vela, who plays for English Premiership club Arsenal, replaced Aldo De Nigris to start the second half.

He doubled the score in the 57th minute, as he eluded three defenders and slotted the ball past Moss.

Vela muscled his way past defender Ben Sigmund on the edge of the penalty area, then out-maneuvered two other New Zealand players to score.

The two-goal lead warmed up the largely pro-Mexico crowd of 90,526 crowd on a damp, chilly night at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl stadium.

New Zealand’s best opportunity had come in the fifth minute when Boyens, who the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer, headed a corner wide.

For Mexico the match was the second in a series of six friendlies in the United States as they prepare to open their World Cup campaign against hosts South Africa on June 11.

Their first-round group also includes France and Uruguay.

The friendly offered Mexico coach Javier Aguirre a chance to see some of his Europe-based talent, including Vela, Salcido, Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado and Giovani and Jonathan Dos Santos.

New Zealand, who will be playing in their first World Cup, had to make do without defenders Ryan Nelsen and Ivan Vicelich.

Nelsen, the team captain, suffered a hyperextended knee in Blackburn Rovers’ 3-0 English premiership win over Bolton Wanderers in February, while Vicelich is suspended.

New Zealand will travel to Europe in late May for further warm-ups against Serbia and Slovenia.

In the first round of the World Cup they are drawn in Group F with defending champions Italy, Slovakia and Paraguay.

PASADENA, California (AFP)

Tags: Andres Guardado, bolivia, bolton wanderers, California, carlos salcido, Carlos Vela, chilly night, chivas guadalajara, english premiership, friendlies, Guadalajara, hyperextended knee, Italy, Javier Aguirre, Major League Soccer, Mexico, New York, new york red bulls, New Zealand, paraguay, premiership club, rafael marquez, ryan nelsen, San Francisco, Santos, slovakia, South Africa, United States, uruguay, warm ups, world cup warm up match

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Goal spree results in 2-2 draw for Mexico, Trinidad

Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago combined for three goals in a eight-minute span midway through the second half en route to a 2-2 draw at Hasely Crawford Stadium Wednesday night on the final night of CONCACAF qualification for the 2010 World Cup.

Mexico, which saw its five-match winning streak snapped, finished second in the CONCACAF “hexagonal”, one point behind the United States. Honduras defeated El Salvador 1-0 in San Salvador and,  coupled with USA’s stunning 2-2 draw against Costa Rica, earned the confederation’s third automatic berth to the World Cup.

Trinidad & Tobago, which received two goals from Kerry Baptiste, finished last in the six-team group with six points from 10 matches.

Playing for nothing but pride, the Soca Warriors pressured El Tri from the opening kick. Dennis Lawrence’s point blank header was pushed away by Guillermo Ochoa, who also was caught off his line moments later before a Trinidad defender cleared the ball off the line.

Baptiste was then played behind the Mexican defense, but he fired well of the target from 16 meters. Baptiste stepped to the spot in the 32nd minute after Gerardo Torrado was adjusted to handle a deep cross.

The Joe Public midfielder fired a low shot that just evaded Ochoa, who guessed correctly and Trinidad & Tobago had a 1-0 halftime lead.

Enrique Esqueda equalized in the 58th minute, ripping the ball over goalkeeper Marvin Phillip’s right shoulder from the right side of the box.

But the Soca Warriors quickly regained the lead when Baptiste latched onto Hector Hughton’s ball into the box and headed past Ochoa from the edge of the six-yard box in the 61st minute.

Trinidad’s lead lasted all of five minutes, though, as Carlos Salcido got in behind the defense and headed the equalizer into the net.

The Soca Warriors nearly claimed all three points moments later, but Robert Primus’ header caromed off the crossbar.

With the United States losing 2-0 to Costa Rica at halftime in Washington, it seemed Mexico would finish atop the group with a draw, but the Americans rallied late and on Jonathan Bornstein’s goal 4½ minutes into second-half stoppage time to stay one point ahead of El Tri.

PORT-OF-SPAIN

Source

Tags: 2010 world cup, carlos salcido, Crawford Stadium, crossbar, Dennis Lawrence, El Salvador, el tri, enrique esqueda, gerardo torrado, Goalkeeper, guillermo ochoa, hasely crawford stadium, Hector Hughton, joe public, jonathan bornstein, Mexico, midfielder, minute span, port of spain, six points, soca warriors, target, team group, Tobago, Tri, Trinidad, Washington, winning streak

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PSV beat Ajax in entertaining clash

PSV Eindhoven handed Ajax Amsterdam their first defeat of the season, beating their rivals 4-3 in Sunday’s entertaining top clash.

Ajax had silenced the home crowd after less than two minutes, as a bad pass from Carlos Salcido allowed Luis Suarez to pick up and put the ball past keeper Andreas Isaksson for 0-1.

PSV then slowly but surely began to control the encounter and equalised in the 37th minute when Balazs Dzsudzsak slammed a free kick through the ball and past goalie Maarten Stekelenburg.

But Ajax immediately replied as Suarez scored his second two minutes after the equaliser. This time, the Uruguayan netted in the aftermath of a Demy de Zeeuw free kick.

After the break, PSV didn’t need long to level again as Dzsudzsak found Otman Bakkal who had no difficulties scoring for 2-2. Four minutes later, in the 54th, Dzsudzsak himself scored another with a free kick from the wing that completely surprised Stekelenburg.

This time it was Ajax to hunt for the equaliser and Martin Jol’s men got it in minute 58. Suarez provided Urby Emanuelson with the opportunity to slam it past Isaksson for 3-3.

But the home side had the final say as a pass from Manolev left Ajax’ defense shattered, for Bakkal to take advantage and score his second and earn PSV their first win of the season.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: aftermath, ajax amsterdam, Amsterdam, andreas isaksson, bakkal, carlos salcido, clash, demy, Eindhoven, encounter, equaliser, four minutes, free kick, home crowd, luis suarez, martin jol, otman bakkal, rivals, two minutes, uruguayan

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PENDING: Mexico seek vital victory over US at Azteca

Mexico will seek to continue its dominance over the United States at Azteca Stadium on Wednesday as the CONCACAF regional rivals clash in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.

Mexico go into the match lying in fourth place in the six-nation final group, from which three teams advance directly to the World Cup finals in South Africa. The fourth-placed team must play off against a team from South America for a berth.

Costa Rica leads North American regional qualifying with 12 points to 10 for the US squad. Honduras is third with Mexico in fourth.

Mexico received a massive morale boost heading into the match with a 5-0 victory over the United States in the Gold Cup final on July 26.

But that was against a young US side that didn’t include stars such as Landon Donovan.

On Wednesday US coach Bob Bradley will field a full-strength team as the Americans vie for a first-ever victory over Mexico at Azteca. They have only managed one draw there – a goalless draw in a 1997 World Cup qualifier.

“The difficulty is everything but the soccer,” Donovan said of the challenge of taking on Mexico at Azteca – where the altitude, poor air quality and fiercely partisan crowd of 100,000 all play a role.

“They use all of the outside influences to their advantage, but that?s not an excuse anymore for us. We?re not going to use it as an excuse.

“We?re not going for a point,” Donovan said. “We?re going there to win the game and we?re going to keep playing the way we?re playing.”

Donovan was referring to the form that has seen the United States win three of their five qualifiers to date, and reach the final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Bradley has recalled an number of players who skipped the Gold Cup, including defender Oguchi Onyewu of AC Milan, Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey, Hull’s Jozy Altidore and the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Donovan.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre’s squad includes his Gold Cup champions along with defender Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), Andres Guardado (Deportivo la Coruna) and veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire).

Aguirre replaced Sven Goran Eriksson in April and after a defeat at El Salvador saw his side down Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup qualifying on June 10.

Despite Mexico’s struggles in this qualifying campaign, Aguirre insists his side have what it takes.

“It?s not a dark scenario,” he said. “Why the heck were we going to be out of the World Cup? They have to give us a chance. If there was one game left and we had to win and have two rivals lose, then I would say it was tough. But things are different. Things have improved.”

Costa Rica will be trying to maintain their spot atop the standings when they travel to Honduras, while Trinidad and Tobago host El Salvador.

Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda, who also turned to a young squad in the Gold Cup, has recalled his best to take on the Ticos in the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.

David Suazo of Inter Milan is still out with a leg injury, but Rueda has the services of captain Amado Guevara from Toronto FC, Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios, Parma?s Julio de Leon, Carlo Costly and Carlos Pavon.

Honduras have seven points from five matches. While they are lying third, they are three points behind the United States, just one in front of Mexico and only two ahead of El Salvador – who will be seeking to gain ground at winless Trinidad and Tobago.

MEXICO CITY (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Altidore, Andres Guardado, andres guardado deportivo la coruna, azteca stadium, bob bradley, captain Amado Guevara, Carlo Costly, Carlos Pavon, carlos salcido, carlos salcido psv, carlos salcido psv eindhoven, Chicago, Clint Dempsey, coach bob, Costa Rica, cup champions, David Suazo, final group, fulham, HULL, Javier Aguirre, jozy altidore, Julio de Leon, landon donovan, Los Angeles, los angeles galaxy, Mexico, mexico city, Milan, partisan crowd, poor air quality, reinaldo rueda, san pedro sula, South America, Sven Goran Eriksson, Tobago, world cup finals, world cup qualifier

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Mexico squad for USA clash includes 12 Gold Cup players

Mexico manager Javier Aguirre has selected 12 of the players that participate at this month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, for the crucial World Cup qualifier with the United States on August 12.

The Mexicans desperately need a win in order to remain with a good chance of qualifying, while the US will be looking for their first ever victory at the Azteca stadium and revenge following the 5-0 defeat in the Gold Cup final.

The inclusion of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is no surprise, and the selection of Giovani Dos Santos is not unexpected either. Others that were selected from the Gold Cup squad are Jose de Jesus Corona, Efrain Juarez, Jose Antonio Castro, Jonn Magallon, Israel Castro, Gerardo Torrado, Alberto Medina, Miguel Sabah, Carlos Vela and Guillermo Franco.

Aguirre also added Ricardo Osorio, Carlos Salcido, Rafael Marquez, Oscar Rojas, Aaron Galindo, Andres Guardado, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Nery Castillo.

United States manager Bob Bradley isn’t expected to field any of the players that faced Mexico last Sunday.

By: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: aaron galindo, alberto medina, Andres Guardado, azteca stadium, bob bradley, carlos salcido, Carlos Vela, concacaf gold cup, cuauhtemoc blanco, efrain juarez, gerardo torrado, Guillermo Franco, guillermo ochoa, israel, Javier Aguirre, Jose, jose de jesus, magallon, Miguel Sabah, oscar rojas, rafael marquez, ricardo osorio, Santos, U.S.

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FC Twente too strong for Roda JC

AZ Alkmaar will have to wait another week to secure the championship as second-placed FC Twente earned a 4-2 win over Roda JC on Saturday.

Romano Denneboom’s 17th-minute goal was cancelled out by Laurent Delorge in the 25th but goals from Douglas, Slobodan Rajkovic and Eljero Elia then gave the home side a comfortable 4-1 lead.

Sekou Cisse got one back on 78 minutes but Twente avoided further damage and secured the three points.

The gap between AZ and Twente remains 11 points, with just four matches to go.

PSV Eindhoven continue to apply pressure on fourth-placed SC Heerenveen, beating FC Utrecht 2-0 at Philips Stadium. Carlos Salcido scored just before the break and Timmy Simons converted a penalty in the 55th minute.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: alkmaar, carlos salcido, cisse, delorge, Douglas, Eindhoven, elia, Eredivisie, fc twente, gap, jonathan, Laurent Delorge, minute goal, philips, Philips Stadium, romano denneboom, roorda, slobodan rajkovic, Timmy Simons, utrecht

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Salcido to stay at PSV while fellow Mexican Maza shows frustration

EINDHOVEN (SW) – Manager Huub Stevens continues to divide opinions at defending Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. While Mexican Carlos Salcido aims to give it some more time, fellow countryman Francisco Rodriguez is less positive.

"The reality is that our relationship is zero," Salcido told journalists after landing in Mexico City last Sunday, referring to his cooperation with Stevens.

"There are a lot of things I can’t say anything about. Things that take place in the dressing room. Differences of opinion we have with Stevens, I can’t reveal those."

Recently, Salcido said to want to leave the Dutch side. While in Mexico, the defender added some nuance: "Yesterday I talked to people of PSV. They don’t want me to leave and told me to return by January 6th. I’m staying at PSV."

Rodriguez meanwhile, used the occasion to reveal some of his frustrations: "It’s something that keeps me occupied. Because I’m not playing, I lost my spot in the national team. I have had a lot of patience but I won’t sit on the bench for another year and a half. If things haven’t changed by June, I will talk to the board and see if I can move to a club where I will play football.

But the defender, also known as ‘Maza’, added that he would prefer to stay in Eindhoven. "I want to continue there. I want to make my dream come true. Salcido is my best friend there and he tells me to remain calm, that things will change. I have had problems more often but in the end I always overcame them."

The 27-year-old joined PSV from Chivas de Guadalajara this summer, teaming up with Salcido who had made the exact same move three years earlier.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: bench, carlos salcido, chivas de guadalajara, Defender, dressing room, dutch champions, dutch side, Eindhoven, Eredivisie, fellow, fellow countryman, football, francisco rodriguez, friend, frustration, frustrations, Guadalajara, huub stevens, january 6th, jonathan, Jonathan Roorda, journalists, June, last sunday, Mexico, mexico city, nuance, patience, PSV, roorda, Sunday

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