It could've have been much more impressive if the goal was earned.
Mexico's next generation of soccer players touted, at least they tried to tout, their stuff during a friendly exhibition match against Australia that ended in a 1-1 tie before more than 45,000 fans who cheered as the two national U-23 pre-select Olympic teams took to the field - also the home of the Oakland Raiders NFL team - inside McAfee Coliseum March 2.
Powered by Morelia's forward Luis Angel Landin, Cruz Azul's midfielder Cesar Villaluz, America's goalie Guillermo Ochoa, and under the direction of head coach Hugo Sanchez, Mexico's U-23 has yet to show they can go toe-to-toe on the international stage against Olympiads in Beijing this summer.
Sure Mexico may have controlled the ball throughout most of the match, but just put yourself in the Olympics, and you miss not one, but two good ops? C'mon Landin! Easy to coach from the sideline, yes, but easier to get that royal treatment, then not produce.
Though the Mexican fans rallied behind the illustrious flag, even tailgated to the sound of rancheras and cumbias outside McAfee Coliseum, just like silver and black Raiders fans, some couldn't help but think that El Tri should have made one of the 18 shots on Australia's goal. The Aussies finished with five shots on Ochoa's goal. Adrian Leijer tried to block, but deflected a shot into Australia's goal granting Mexico a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute, but last in the match, Troy Hearfield tied the Concacaf Olympic warm up match with a goal in the 87th minute.
According to Sanchez, he's not really concerned about the 1-1 tie, but wants "the players to get used to each other and understand the tactical scheme," he said in a post-match press conference.
Loyal fans may be getting tired of the rhetoric.
Former U-17 coach for Mexico, Jesus "Chucho" Ramirez, was surrounded by fans for autographs and posed for pictures after the match.
Some fans feel he should call the shots for the U-23 Olympic squad, and leave the seleccion mexicana over-23 team to Sanchez. But Ramirez is the kind of guy that goes with what the intellects in the Federacion, and won't bash the wave, even though some of the fans want him to.