Just like their arch-rivals the United States, the Mexico U-23 national team has a chance to secure an Olympic Qualifying semifinal berth with a win against Haiti. The two giants of CONCACAF have their senior teams playing soon to determine who goes to the Confederations Cup in Russia in 2017, and at the rate things are going, their U-23 sides could be battling for a berth to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil as well.
Mexico vs. Haiti 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Olympic soccer qualifying online
Mexico clobbered Costa Rica in their group opener. Can they do the same to Haiti to secure a semifinal berth?
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Mexico are in this position after absolutely blasting Costa Rica in the group B opener to the tune of a 4-0 win. Haiti played Honduras tougher, but couldn’t get a goal as they lost their match 1-0, forcing them into a likely win-or-else scenario for this match -- a loss and any result for Honduras as they take on Costa Rica will end Haiti’s Olympic dreams before they even come close to starting.
Key player -- Marco Bueno (Mexico)
With Cubo Torres deservedly demanding a lot of attention from Costa Rica’s defense, it was Bueno playing the opportunist in that match and picking up a brace of goals. He did so by quietly floating into spaces that defenders were abandoning to track Torres and making himself available for a lethal ball behind the defense. If he can play that same routine again, Haiti are done for.
Key factor -- Focus, focus, focus
A lot of losses for the big teams in tournaments like this come in this exact situation. They can secure advancement by thumping a minnow, but have a match coming against a tougher team next up. They stop focusing on the game at hand, thinking about that bigger opponent. Then, surprise! You lose because you weren’t paying attention. Mexico cannot afford to do that, because they can’t guarantee they’ll beat Honduras. Beat Haiti first, secure that semifinal berth, then worry about the rest later.
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. local
Venue: StubHub Center, Carson, California, United States
TV: NBC Universo (U.S. - Spanish), UnivisionTDN, Canal 5 Televisa (Mexico)
Online: NBC Deportes En Vivo Extra (U.S. - Spanish)
See More:
