Columnist Nick Green has written 100 Percent Soccer
since 2005. A
native of England, he began writing about soccer in
the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat
in the stands for one in
the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home
Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas
USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer.
Married to a long-suffering soccer widow, he has a cat
named Pele.Olympic Qualifying Result: Guatemala 2 Mexico 1
After the game with Canada two days ago Mexican Coach Hugo Sanchez said he wasn't worried because his team hadn't lost.
He's worried now.
Despite out-shooting its opponents 17-10, Mexico was upset by Guatamala 2-1 Friday night before 19,638 fans at the Home Depot Center.
"They're just another team," said Guatemalan Coach Rodrigo Kenyon.
The result means Mexico must win Sunday against Haiti and either hopes Canada doesn't win or scores fewer goals (or allows more) in their game against Guatemala. Because if the two teams are even (as they are now) on goal difference and goals scored it will come down to a coin flip.
"We're under fire, we have to show what this team is capable of and we have to attack," Sanchez said.
The only Mexican goal came from American-born Edgar Castillo in the ninth minute after the Guatemalan defense failed to clear its box, leaving one to wonder what Sanchez is thinking now considering his criticism of his predecessor for using naturalized American citizens on the team.
But Guatemala doggedly stayed in the game five minutes before half time when a long ball from Jean Marquez caught the Mexican defense napping and Carlos Villa, one of a half dozen CSD Municipal players on the roster, raced through to score.
Guatemala sealed victory in the 67th minute on a Maynor Ignacio Lopez header from a corner kick.
"They were more effective in their finishing," said Sanchez, calling his opponents "just conquerors."
He also blamed the media for giving his players "bad vibes" for getting on them for not scoring goals.
"We've done good things, not everything has been bad," he protested.
True.
Just most things, Hugo.
More here.