Mexico has tied with Nigeria in Atlanta 0-0. The two World Cup bound nations played an exciting first half, however, the second half became somewhat stale after numerous player substitutions affected the rhythm of the game. Neither team was able to convert play into goals, however, both teams showcased their playing abilities in the lead up to Brazil. Although the result may have been a disappointment for fans, undoubtedly it will have been an important learning process for both coaches.
Nigeria dominated play in the early stages of the first half, with plenty of action from both teams. Goalkeepers Guillermo Ochoa (El Tri) and Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria) had to work hard to keep the scores level. Mexico managed to take control in the latter end of the first half. Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa were the biggest threats for El Tri, however, Mexico eventually managed to take control of the midfield, particularly Andres Guardado.
The second half saw a number of changes on both sides as coaches from both teams tried to give all players as much game time as possible. The exceptional Enyeama was replaced by Austin Ejide at the break, who managed to continue Nigeria's fine form. Meanwhile, Ochoa managed to stave off the brilliant Nigerian assault. Miguel 'El Piojo' Herrera also made numerous changes, which, while no doubt affecting the nature of team, gave fans a showcase of what's to come.
'El Tri' has certainly come a long way from its dismal performance during the CONCAFf season. While they got there by the skin of their teeth, the face off against New Zealand proved that there is still fire in El Piojo's side, as well as proving why Herrera himself deserves to be at the helm. Their 4-0 win over South Korea in January was certainly a huge confidence boost. Meanwhile, Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations. Both teams will be exciting to watch in Brazil.
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