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Mexico win penultimate friendly
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Mexico warmed up for the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 win over Australia. The Socceroos defended well but couldn’t convert chances in front of 80,000 fans.
Australia fall to Mexico 1-0 despite second-half fightback at rose bowl...
Mexico, co-hosts of the upcoming World Cup, beat Australia 1-0 in a scrappy friendly on Saturday. The match drew almost 80,000 El Tri supporters to the
Rose Bowl outside Los Angeles for their penultimate warm-up.
Johan Vasquez scored the only goal, guiding a header from
Alexis Vega’s corner into the net midway through the first half.
Mexico controlled possession, but Australia sat deep and hit on the counter.
The Socceroos defended well and missed a few chances that could have quieted the home crowd.
The game was played at the Rose Bowl, the historic stadium that staged the
1994 World Cup final in the US. It won’t be used for matches in this summer’s 2026 tournament.
The stands were almost all green as Mexico’s fans turned out in force. Australia’s yellow was visible only in small pockets around the massive Rose Bowl, with the 2026 World Cup set to be co-hosted by Mexico, the US and Canada.
Mexico had most of the ball from the start, but Australia created the first real chance. Jackson Irvine latched onto a loose ball from a free-kick delivery and dragged his shot just wide.
El Tri then started to turn dominance into threat. Luis Chavez floated a diagonal cross to Alexis Vega, whose flicked header was pushed over the bar by Mathew Ryan.
Mexico broke through soon after. Vega’s outswinging corner was met by a neat downward header from Johan Vasquez. The ball bounced in off the inside of the post, with Ryan unable to reach it.
Australia’s set-piece defending was poor given their size advantage, with 6-foot-6
Harry Souttar among those in the box.
The Socceroos should have equalized right before half-time.
Mexico keeper Raul Rangel came off his line for a long ball, but Mateo Chávez García ignored his call and headed it straight to Australia’s Mohamed Toure.
The 22-year-old Norwich striker was born in a Guinea refugee camp to Liberian parents before moving to Australia as a child. He had an open goal but somehow lobbed his shot wide left.
Australia came out much more aggressive after the break, and Aiden O’Neill forced a good save with a long-range drive.
Australian subs Paul Okon-Engstler and Ajdin Hrustic linked up for a chance, but Hrustic’s shot from inside the box was blocked.
Australia had more control in the second half, but Mexico thought they’d made it 2-0 with 15 minutes left when Jesus Gallardo’s shot was deflected in by Hrustic.
But the referee was still marking out Australia’s wall with spray foam and disallowed the goal, angering Mexico’s players and the loud home crowd.
Mexico have one more warm-up left, hosting Serbia on Thursday before kicking off the World Cup against South Africa in Mexico City on June 11th.
Mexico are in Group A with South Africa, South Korea and the Czech Republic. Australia’s group features co-hosts USA, plus Paraguay and Turkey.
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