Mexico v Netherlands

Mexico (2) v Netherlands (4)

Both teams had won their earlier matches today so it was all to play for.  The match opened brightly and the first shots on goal went to Mexico, but the Dutch keeper denied them twice to keep the scores level. Slightly against the run of play, Dutch player Boutchi scored from close range.  The post then preserved the Dutch lead twice before the men in orange broke away to make the score 2-0.  Mexico then hit the Dutch upright again before Boutchi tried his luck from distance to extend the Mexican keeper.  Dutch skills brought a third goal as a superb cross field pass from Jonko provided Boutchi with his hat trick goal. So three goals to the Dutch. 

Soon after that, the Dutch were reduced to three men as Jonko was sin binned for a foul on Santiestaban right under the referee's nose.  Will Mexico make the extra man count in the final minutes of the first half?  The answer was yes as Reza popped up unmarked at the far post to slot home Mexico's first goal.  The Mexican's then hit the post yet again before another Dutch foul lead to a penality to the Mexicanos.  Muñoz stepped up and beat the Dutch keeper to send us in at the end of a bad tempered half with the score at Netherlands 3 Mexico 2.

The second half started with the game finely poised.  The Dutch keeper made a fantastic save as the Mexicans sought an early equaliser.  Boutchi brought another good save at the other end as he again tried his luck from distance.  The Mexican team were patiently looking for an opening, but their luck was not in as the ball refused to go in the Dutch net.  It was end to end stuff, but neither team could score.  Then another Dutch foul lead to Azizi being shown a blue card and the Dutch were yet again reduced to three men.  The Mexican's continued to build patiently, but the Dutch keeper was equal to everything that the Mexicanos could throw at him.

The game was sown up by the Dutch after the Mexican keeper was caught in possession outside of the "D".  Boutchi stepped up and his fancy footwork made a fool of the Mexican keeper to make the final score Netherlands 4 Mexico 2.

Paul Macklesworth