Mexico’s draw with Venezuela gives El Tri 1st in Group C

But as the contest entered its waning moments, he wended his way through five Venezuelan defenders, then fired a laser beam from 10 yards to tie it up and thrill the overwhelmingly pro-Mexico crowd. A ideal record and no goals conceded says a lot for a team who came into this tournament with little belief from any pundit, myself included.

The draw means Venezuela is likely to face Argentina in the quarterfinals, while Mexico will be left with either defending champion Chile or Panama.

It’s one reason why venerable coach Oscar Tabarez faced a grilling from reporters before La Celeste defeated Jamaica 3-0 on Monday night at Levi’s Stadium in a meaningless Copa America Centenario game. “We selected a good group to compete against Venezuela”.

“Jamaica, the most combative team, the most athletic, and of all the stronger, the faster”. Before the tournament began I predicted Luis Suarez’s injury would shift the balance of this group in Mexico’s favor and in fact, I have them as winners of the entire competition.

“We do not play thinking of avoiding one or another team”, he said.

Venezuela defender Jose Manuel Velazquez opened the scoring with a terrific bicycle kick, but with 10 minutes remaining, that strike was nullified by Corona’s strike.

The Mexicans have not been beaten in 21 straight worldwide matches and are 9-0-0 since Osorio took over for interim coach Ricardo Ferretti last fall.

Mexico pushed hard in the early stages of the second half and it took an unorthodox block from Wilker Angel to deny Peralta what looked to be a certain goal.

For long periods, however, it looked as if Mexico were heading for a quarter-final date with the Argentines as a well organized Venezuela side frustrated “El Tri”. While advancing is the goal, it came up short of winning the group.

Two defeats apiece in their opening games against Mexico and Venezuela has left both nations without a point and unable to reach the quarterfinals in United States, and pride was the only thing at stake in this match. They kept constant pressure on Jamaica, eventually scoring a third in the 88′ minute from an easy chance for Corujo. Corona missed yet again a couple of minutes later when his shot rolled just outside of the post.