Mexico played its third consecutive draw in a World Cup qualifying match, resulting in a field littered with trash as disgruntled fans shouted at Costa Rica's players and chanted for El Tri's coach Jose Manuel de la Torre to be fired.
In the lackluster showing at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City Tuesday night, Mexico missed opportunities and allowed their defense to be assaulted by Costa Rica. Mexico is the leading team in the CONCACAF region, but has thus far played nine draws out of the 10 games played in 2013, Goal reported. Mexico entered the bout in a three-way tie with Costa Rica, boasting only one victory.
De la Torre kept Giovani Dos Santos out of the starting lineup as a drastic measure that proved futile. Costa Rica set the pace for much of the game, starting first with a would-be goal by Joel Cambell that nearly slipped passed Mexico's goalkeeper Jose Corona in just the fourth minute of play. In the 37th minute, Cambell struck again, forcing a diving save out of Corona.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez was originally paired with formidable striker Aldo de Nigris. De la Torre later swapped de Nigris for the young Raul Juminez in the final 45, an effort that also proved useless. Dos Santos didn't make an appearance until the 78th minute.
Gerardo Flores gave Mexico an opportunity as play nearly came to a close as he redirected a free kick that Chicharito was unable to capitalize on as the ball bounced out of bounds. An additional seven minutes were tacked onto the game after an extensive amount of time dealing with an injury, which occurred after one of the objects tossed by angry fans hit Costa Rica's captain Bryan Ruiz in the back of the head.
Mexico faces a tough road ahead as it tries to recoup from the disappointment before Sunday when El Tri faces off against Italy at the start of the Confederations Cup. Mexico has won the title only once.
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