Mexico’s Problems Persist as Colombia Stages a Rally

“Colombia is a very good team and very difficult to defend,” Jorge Campos was saying earlier this week. “It will be another challenge for us because we have so many things to work on.”

That list didn’t get any shorter Wednesday night.

Mexico’s national soccer team, with Campos in goal--at least for a half--let a two-goal lead slip and was beaten, 3-2, by Colombia in front of an estimated 25,000 fans at the Coliseum.

The winning goal was scored in the 90th minute by Colombian forward Nestor Salazar. It came on a fastbreak during which Salazar first beat defensive midfielder Omar Blanco, then touched the ball wide of charging goalkeeper Oscar Conejo Perez before cutting it back into the open net from a sharp angle.

The goal stunned the fans, the vast majority of whom were supporting Mexico.

The ending, however, was a perfect fit for a dramatic, incident-packed match that swung first one way, then the other.

Mexico scored twice in the first 15 minutes to take apparent control. Then, inexplicably, it allowed the South Americans to claw their way back into the game.

The result means that Mexico has not won in its last five matches, a fact that will have been noted with interest by U.S. Coach Bruce Arena, whose team plays Mexico in a key World Cup qualifying game Feb. 28 in Columbus, Ohio.

Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid was scouting the game for Arena, and his halftime verdict was that Mexico was playing much better than it has in recent months.

“I think [Mexico Coach] Enrique Meza has been trying different things in the seven games that he’s had the team,” Schmid said. “He’s tried different lineups.

It was Meza who wasn’t happy after American referee Brian Hall had blown the final whistle. In particular, he was furious at Pavel Pardo, who was ejected from the game in the 86th minute for deliberately kicking Colombia’s Alexander Viveros when Viveros was already on the ground.

Four minutes later, Salazar scored the game-winner against a team playing one man short.

Meza’s counterpart, meanwhile, was all smiles. Luis Baragan had reason to be proud of the way his team fought back after appearing indifferent and outclassed in the early going.

It took a diving save by Campos off a low, line-drive of a free kick by Colombia’s Gersson Gonzales to wake up Mexico.

The team had not scored a goal in its last four games--a tie with Canada and losses to the U.S., Argentina and, last week, Bulgaria.

That struggle lasted only until the 10th minute, when Victor Ruiz sent a cross in from the right, Jose Manuel Abundis flicked it on with his head and Colombian defender Arley Dinas made a mess of clearing the ball.

Instead, it fell kindly for Mexico’s Claudio Suarez, whose shot from close range was in the back of the net before goalkeeper Farid Mondragon could react.

Leading, 1-0, Mexico kept up the pressure, playing attractive soccer and moving the ball well. In the 15th minute, Luis Hernandez doubled Mexico’s lead with an emphatic goal.

This time a corner kick by Ruiz was flicked on by Alberto Macias and Hernandez, the Galaxy striker, was on hand to hammer a shot in from a few yards.

Colombia’s recovery began in the 40th minute with a superb goal by Gerardo Bedoya, who took a back-heel pass from Gonzales and sent a swerving, 20-yard shot just underneath the crossbar and out of Campos’ reach.

The South Americans tied it in the 64th minute on a downward header by Julian Vasquez that sneaked in at the left post off a free kick by Salazar, who 26 minutes later scored the winner.