World Cup 2010: Argentina Overwhelms Mexico, 3-1

Chicarito, Javier Hernandez, has his second goal of the World Cup, a powerful finish from 11 yard out to beat Sergio Romero near post, pulling Mexico to within 3-1 of Argentina.

Hernandez was put through on goal by a perfect pass from Gerardo Torrado, who put his striker beyond defender Nicolas Otamendi with a ball weighted to allow Hernandez to run onto it with bringing out Romero.

Carlos Tevez and his two goals (half of them legal) are out. Diego Maradona has inserted South American Player of the Year Juan Sebastian Veron.

Tevez has goals in the 25th and 52nd minutes, the first a controversial header from an offside position, the second a right footed rocket to open the second half.

Carlos Tévez’s right-footed blast from 24-yards out into the upper right hand corner of goal has given Argentina a 3-0 lead early in the second half.

Tévez, in possession outside the box, even with the left post, played the ball to hit right, creating room before letting go of a shot that gave goalkeeper Óscar Pérez no chance.

Argentina goes into halftime up two against Mexico, and while they played better soccer over the first forty-five minutes, their two goals were gifts. The first gift came courtesy of the officials in the second controversial non-call of the day. The second gift came from Ricardo Osorio.

In the 25th minute, Carlos Tévez headed home the opening goal though he was in an offside position. The chaos of a play that saw goalkeeper Óscar Pérez come far off his line to make a save on the Argentine may have contributed to the non-call, but when Lionel Messi’s played the ball that was headed-in by Tévez from four yards out, no players were between the forward and goal.

Gonzalo Higuaín’s fourth goal of the tournament has given Argentina a 2-0 lead over Mexico in the 33rd minute, with Mexican defender Ricardo Osario’s error assisting on the Argentine’s score.

Osario received a pass from Efraín Juárez, with a poor touch toward the center of the pitch allowing Higuaín to take the ball at the edge of the box and go in on goal, beating Óscar Pérez for Argentina’s second goal.

Carlos Tévez headed Argentina home from an offside position in the 26th minute, giving the Albiceleste a 1-0 lead over Mexico.

The goal came after Tevez, with no players between him and goal, headed home a Lionel Messi chip from inside the six yard box.

A speculative shot from right back Carlos Salcido was barely pushed against the cross bar in the eighth minute, with Andres Guardado missing by two feet to the left of goal one minute later, the two shots the first times either Mexico or Argentina have threatened goal.

Carlos Salcido’s shot from near 40 yard out started innocently but nearly floated over Sergio Romero’s head an into goal, with a late reaction from the goalkeeper forcing him to push it against the bar.

Against Argentina in the Round of 16, Mexico coach Javier Aguirre is giving Adolfo “Bofo” Bautista his first start at this year’s World Cup.

The 31-year-old Chivas striker will start in attack with Javier Hernández, getting his first start, and Giovani dos Santos.

Diego Maradona has two small surprise for his starting Xi against Mexico.

In addition to Nicolás Burdisso replacing the injured Walter Samuel, a change we knew was coming, Maradona is staying with right back Nicolás Otamendi.

Today, Mexico gets their chance to augment history, though this year they have to worry about something more dangerous than Maxi’s left foot.

There is, however, a recently crafted blue print for containing Messi. During the club season, Internazionale coach José Mourinho used two deep-sitting central midfielders to help clog the pitch in the areas Messi’s become accustomed to dominating. When Messi went back to the right flank, Inter had a strong presence at left back.