All of the chatter about Wednesday's World Cup rematch between Mexico and the Netherlands centered around the return of Carlos Vela, who accepted an El Tri call-up for the first time in three years. He didn't disappoint, completing a brace, with his first goal just eight minutes into Mexico's 3-2 victory in Amsterdam.
Mexico vs. Netherlands: Final score 3-2, Carlos Vela nets a brace in return
El Tri’s lost star is back, and he’s cementing his place in the team.
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Mexico had the better of the early play and Vela capitalized, hitting an absolute stunner past Tim Krul from 25 yards to put his team on top early. Hector Herrera did brilliantly to win the ball, hold off multiple defenders and find Vela, who did the rest of the work at the end of a brilliant all-around goal.
The Netherlands thought they had an equalizer when the ball fell to Arjen Robben in front of goal in the 18th minute, but Adrian Aldrete did brilliantly to get down and make a block when the rest of Mexico’s defense was in shambles.
Ron Vlaar went down injured in the 23rd minute and had to be replaced, but that didn’t slow down the home side’s momentum. Robben had another big chance in the 30th minute, but ‘Memo’ Guillermo Ochoa came up with a big save. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had his team’s best chance to score just before the break when a header flicked backwards found him in front of goal, but he missed wide instead of converting what should have been a simple tap-in.
While the first half had plenty of action, it was nothing in comparison to a wild second that featured multiple goals for both teams. The Netherlands were level just four minutes into the half thanks to Wesley Sneijder, who struck an absolute stunner from even farther out than Vela's opening goal, getting his team back into the game.
‘Chicharito’ Javier Hernandez had a pair of excellent chances to put his team back on top right afterwards, but couldn’t score them. He pushed an uncontested header wide in the 50th minute, then was denied from close range by a brilliant Krul save six minutes after that.
Mexico would get the next goal, though, and it was Vela who scored it. He picked up a pass from Jesus Corona -- who had just entered the match -- in the 62nd minute, made space for himself on the left side of the box and hit a shot to a spot where Krul could just get his fingertips to the ball, but not keep it out of the back of the net.
Just seven minutes after that, Chicharito finally got his goal, though in controversial fashion. He looked to be a hair offside when Andres Guardado’s through ball was played in, but the linesman’s flag stayed down, and he rounded Krul before converting the easy finish.
It took a bit of luck, but the Netherlands were back within a goal in the 74th minute off a deflected rip by Daley Blind. He stepped up from his defensive midfield spot and took a speculative shot from distance that was headed right for Ochoa, but it hit off the shoulder of Diego Reyes and the Mexican keeper couldn’t adjust to the ball’s new flight path.
But Mexico tightened up after that and did well to hold on for the win. The Oranje's best chance to equalize came in the 86th minute when Ochoa made a stop on Georginio Wijnaldum from close range, which Quincy Promes followed up by blasting the rebound over the crossbar.
Netherlands: Krul, Willems, Veltman, Vlaar (de Vrij 24’), van Rhijn, Blind, Afellay (Wijnaldum 67’), Sneijder (Fer 81’), Depay (Promes 60’), Huntelaar, Robben
Goals: Sneijder (49’), Blind (74’)
Mexico: Ochoa, M. Herrera (Corona 61’), Reyes, Alanis, Aldrete, Guardado (Ponce 88’), Vazquez (Rodriguez 89’), H. Herrera (J. dos Santos 82’), Vela (G. dos Santos 76’), Hernandez (Jimenez 76’)
Goals: Vela (8’, 62’), Hernandez (69’)
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