Mexico don't have half of their first choice team for this set of international fixtures, and Miguel Herrera will be satisfied with his half-and-half first and second team's performance on Thursday. They were never really challenged in a 2-0 victory over Honduras.
3 things we learned from Mexico’s easy 2-0 win over Honduras
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Honduras didn't get to venture forward very often in the first half, and they paid for it when they did. Mexico's opener came off a turnover, with Javier Hernandez capitalizing. Oribe Peralta set up the goal with a nice bit of hold-up play and a pass to Chicharito, who finished well to the far post from 12 yards. However, Donis Escober appeared to let the ball go through his hands.
Escober made a big save to deny Paul Aguilar off a poorly defended free kick in the 35th minute, but he would concede again from the ensuing corner. Marco Fabian provided the delivery for Oswaldo Alanis, who was completely uncontested on a jump and header that he directed into the back of the net.
The second half featured mass substitutions for both teams, and with players constantly shuffling in and out, there wasn’t much of a rhythm or chemistry between players, and the period was light on chances.
Mexico: Ochoa, Perez, Dominguez, Alanis, Layun (Pizarro 80’), Fabian (Gonzalez 77’), Rios (Guemez 67’), Herrera (Aquino 60’), Aguilar, Peralta (Orozco 67’), Hernandez (Torres 78’)
Goals: Hernandez (22’), Alanis (37’)
Honduras: Escobar, Izaguirre (Barahona 88’), Figueroa, Bernardez, Crisanto, Garcia (Portillo 82’), Claros, Garrido, Najar (Chavez 73’), Rojas (Elis 68’), Quioto (Martinez 57’)
Goals: None
3 things
1. Honduras are useless when they’re not physical - In competitive matches, Honduras are horrible to play against. They’re absolutely nasty and they know how to tiptoe the line between smart physical play and being outright dirty. In friendlies, they respect the fact that they’re in a non-competitive match, don’t really get that physical, and are non-threatening as a result. So Mexico didn’t really have to deal with serious opposition here.
2. Mexico didn’t experiment, and that’s fine - Miguel Herrera has talked about wanting his team to be more versatile, but they played the same formation and style as they always have under him tonight. It worked really well, so they don’t have a reason to move away from it.
3. No one new locked down a spot for either team - Mexico gave run-outs to lots of young and fringe players. All of them were satisfactory, none of them were brilliant or poor. Herrera learned virtually nothing about his team in this match.
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