Thanks to a late Rafael Marquez goal, Mexico defeated 10-man Uruguay 3-1 in front of a sold-out crowd at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday.
Mexico thoroughly outplayed Uruguay in the opening period and had a deserved 1-0 lead heading into the break. However, La Celeste rebounded and were the better side after the interval. Diego Godin equalized with a quarter of an hour left, and Uruguay looked favorites to go on and win. However, they conceded two late goals, leaving them in a must-win position for the rest of the Group Stage.
Player ratings (1-10, with 10 the best):
Uruguay national team ratings:
GK Fernando Muslera, 6.5 -- Helpless on two of Mexico’s three goals, but maybe could have done better on Marquez’s game-winning strike. Controlled his box well and made five saves in total, and wasn’t fazed by the many Mexico national team fans in attendance on Sunday.
RB Maxi Pereira, 5 -- The 31-year-old used all of his experience to deal with the threat of FC Porto teammate Jesus Corona, but he gets docked a couple of points for a hard foul on Andres Guardado in the 68th minute, which earned him a yellow card. Was out of position on Mexico’s third goal.
CB Jose Maria Gimenez, 6 -- Made a tremendous block to stop a Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez shot in the 43rd minute and was in sync with his Atletico Madrid teammate Diego Godin. He was yellow-carded in the 59th minute after a cynical tackle on Chicharito, but won a number of aerial duels and helped neutralize Chicharito on Sunday.
CB Diego Godin, 8 -- It may seem odd that Godin earns an eight after his team conceded three goals, but Godin was a beast on Sunday. He won countless aerial battles, made a couple of well-timed tackles, and even made a brilliant solo run that left four Mexican players in his wake. His towering header in the 74th minute tied the game, and he could do nothing about Marquez’s game-winning strike. He is establishing himself as one of the best center backs in the world, both for club and country.
LB Alvaro Pereira, 2 -- If Godin was Uruguay’s best player on Sunday, Pereira was undoubtedly one of their worst. The 30-year-old headed a ball into his own net instead of clearing it to safety and was overwhelmed by the pace and trickery of Javier Aquino. His passing improved in the second half, but it was not a good performance at all from Pereira.
RM Carlos Sanchez, 6.5 -- Sanchez was one of Uruguay’s best players in a disheartening first-half display, as he linked up well with midfielder Lodeiro and right back Pereira and won a couple of fouls. He had the assist on Godin’s goal and also won the foul that led to Guardado’s dismissal. Should be feeling confident heading into Uruguay’s game against Venezuela on Thursday.
CM Matias Vecino, 2 -- A nightmarish performance from Vecino. The 24-year-old did very little to stop Mexico’s free-flowing attack and committed two costly fouls that got him sent off in the 45th minute. Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez can only hope that whoever replaces Vecino in the starting lineup can play much better than Vecino did on Sunday.
CM Arevalo Rios, 4 -- Rios, like Vecino, was ineffective in the first half, and he was overrun by Mexico’s three-man midfield for much of Sunday’s contest. His passing was at times wayward, but he did win some crucial tackles in the second half. His conservative playing style seemed to hinder Uruguay’s attack late in the game, though.
LM Diego Rolan, 4 -- Rolan was tasked with providing some offense on Uruguay’s left flank, but he struggled to impose himself and missed a gilt-edged chance after being set up by Cavani in the 58th minute. Subbed off for Abel Hernandez in the 60th minute, and may start Thursday’s game on the bench after Sunday’s performance.
CAM Nicolas Lodeiro, 5.5 -- The Seattle Sounders target did a lot more defending than attacking on Sunday, but he linked up well with teammates and was one of the few Uruguay players to keep possession of the ball in the first half. His passing could have been more accurate, but he did make one fantastic pass to Cavani which put Cavani through on goal in the 30th minute. Was subbed off for Alvaro Gonzalez at halftime, and still isn’t fully fit as he recovers from meniscus surgery.
CF Edinson Cavani, 6 -- The Paris Saint-Germain striker was asked to lead the line by himself with star striker Luis Suarez still recovering from a hamstring injury. He had a great scoring chance in the 30th minute but shot straight at goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera. He held up the ball well and made a couple of clever runs, but was shackled by Mexico’s three experienced center backs. El Matador defended set-pieces well and worked hard, and should have more scoring opportunities when he and Uruguay take on Venezuela.
Substitutes
MF Alvaro Gonzalez, 5 -- Gonzalez replaced Lodeiro at halftime, but didn’t cover as much ground as Lodeiro and was anonymous for much of the second half. He did play a couple of well-weighted balls to his teammates but needed to be more active in that attacking midfielder role.
MF/FWD Abel Hernandez, 4 -- Even more anonymous than Gonzalez after replacing Rolan in the 60th minute. His only contribution was committing two fouls and keeping possession, but didn’t take a single shot on goal. Uruguay will need more from Hernandez if they hope to score more than one goal per game in their next two group-stage matches.
MF/FWD Gaston Ramirez, NR (no rating) -- Came on in the 85th minute for Carlos Sanchez. Didn’t do enough to earn a rating.