Mexico’s Gerardo Flores gets entangled with Bolivia’s Ricardo Pedriel (Photo : Reuters)
Mexico and Bolivia fought in a goalless draw to end their Group A opener at the Estadio Sausalito in Viña del Mar, Chile on Friday, June 12.
El Tri is particularly unimpressive as they were expected to win a match against South America's worst football team, according to Bleacher Report. With Chile and Ecuador on the same group, it is feared that Mexico may not even advance in the quarterfinals of this summer's tournament.
Surprisingly it was El Verde who had the best chance of a goal when forward Ricardo Pedriel hit Jose de Jesus Corona's goal post in the 20th minute of the game. A short bounce pass found its way in front of Pedriel, but the 27-year-old Mersin İdmanyurdu striker could not convert on the play.
Near the half's finish, Club Bolivar's midfielder Jhasmani Campos power shot a 25-yarder that Corona again saved to keep the contest scoreless.
Those were the only exciting stretches in 45 minutes of play as the boys of Miguel Herrera seemed to be frolicking mechanically and uninspired on the pitch.
Mexico opened the second half much better and more aggressive. Four minutes into the half Twente's young midfielder Tecatito Corona was wide open for a 16-yarder in the box after a great Mexican passing play, but his shot was off.
The Mexicans tried to pull off a late rally by substituting regular starters Raul Jimenez and Javier Aquino around the 60th minute.
Herrera's move nearly proved useful as Jimenez and Aquino almost converted goals in the 67th and 79th-minute marks, but both went unsuccessful.
In the end, the game was received by a chorus of boos from the Sausalito crowd, who felt bored, disappointed, and turned off by the seemingly lackluster effort of both squads, as per Reuters.
On Monday, Mexico faces host Chile at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago while Bolivia meets Ecuador at Estadio Elías Figueroa in Valparaíso.
