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June 24, 2006
TO THE MAXI
Rodriguez lifts Argentina over Mexico, 2-1
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Mexico's Pavel Pardo lifts the ball over Argentina's Juan Riquelme.
Tony Quinn |
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Leipzig, Germany -- Argentina survived a tense, 120-minute marathon against a determined Mexican side last night to book a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Forward Maxi Rodriguez scored off a spectacular volley in the eighth minute of extra time to lift the Argentines to a 2-1 second-round victory.
The Argentines will meet host Germany in the quarterfinals as the South Americans reached that stage of the competition for the first time since France ‘98, where they lost a classic encounter to the Netherlands. Mexico has never gotten past the second round in European-based World Cups.
Argentine defender and captain Juan Sorin started the scoring sequence sending Rodriguez a left-wing pass to the right side. Rodriguez volleyed the ball from 20 yards to the far left post over an outstretched goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez in the eighth minute of extra time.
It was Rodriguez’s third goal of the tournament.
The Mexicans, coached by Argentine native Ricardo La Volpe, surprisingly stayed with the favored South American side, managing to send the match into a pair of 15-minute extra-time periods.
The Mexicans took the early initiative and surprised Argentina with some offensive thrusts. It certainly paid off in the sixth minute as the underdogs grabbed a 1-0 lead.
Pavel Pardo swung a free kick from the right side into the penalty area that Jared Borgetti head to a sliding Rafael Marquez, who beat goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri with a right-footed shot from three yards for a 1-0 advantage. It was Marquez's first goal of the Cup.
It didn't take long for the Argentines to equalize as they struck four minutes later on a corner kick. Midfielder Juan Riquelme swung the ball into the area. It appeared that Borgetti had scored an own goal but officials initially awarded the goal to Argentine striker Hernan Crespo, who apparently managed to get a foot on before Borgetti could get to it. If stood, it. was Crespo's third goal of the tournament.
Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze was slapped with a yellow card by referee Massimo Busacca for tripping Jose Fonseca 17 seconds into added time in the first half.
The Argentines twice tested goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez within a three-minute span early in the second half.
First, Oswaldo produced a two-handed save on Maxi Rodriguez from 12 yards in the 56th minute before knocking out Javier Saviola’s point-blank four-yard attempt in the 59th minute.
In an attempt to give his attack a boost and add some fresh legs, Argentine coach Jose Pekerman replaced Crespo with Carlos Tevez in the 76th minute. Tevez scored a marvelous goal in the 6-0 first-round shellacking of Serbia & Montenegro as a defender literally tripped over himself as the Argentine sparkplug went one-on-one with his foe.
Pekerman pulled for Esteban Cambiasso for Paolo Aimar. Later in the minute, saving Lionel Messi, who turned 19 yesterday, for the waning minutes of regulation. Messi came on for Saviola in the 84th minute.
Argentina
Roberto Abbondanzieri; Roberto Ayala, Juan Sorin, Gabriel Heinze, Lionel Scaloni; Esteban Cambiasso (Pablo Aimar-75), Javier Mascherano, Juan Riquelme, Maxi Rodriguez; Javier Saviola (Lionel Messi-83), Hernan Crespo (Carlos Tevez-74).
Mexico
Oswaldo Sanchez; Carlos Salcido, Rafael Marquez, Jose Antonio Castro, Mario Mendez, Andres Guadado (Gonzalo Pineda-65); Pavel Pardo (Gerardo Torrado-37); Jared Borgetti, Ramon Morales (Zinha-73), Jose Fonseca.
Goals
Mexico -- Rafael Marquez 5
Argentina -- Hernan Crespo 10
Argentina -- Maxi Rodriguez 98
Discipline
Argentina -- Gabriel Heinze (yellow card) 46+
Mexico -- Rafael Marquez (yellow card) 70
Mexico -- Jose Antonio Castro (yellow card) 82
Argentina -- Juan Sorin (yellow card) 112
Mexico -- Gerardo Torrado (yekllow card) 118
Mexico -- Jose Fonseca (yellow card) 119
Attendance -- 43,000
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