Uruguay has claimed the first position of group A against the Tricolor, who will have to take on Maradona's team early next week. Luis Suarez scored the winning goal at the end of the first half.
Group A was considered one of the toughest ones in this competition, but France's weak performance (Unable to win a single match) coupled with South Africa's unexpected elimination granted the two American nations a ticket for the next stage. With 7 points Oscar Tabarez's boys have earned the respect of their rivals, and much of this has to do with Fernando Muslera's brilliant present, for he has managed to keep Celeste's goal shut. Mexico played well and had many opportunities, but their inefficiency in the last meters doomed him to stand against Diego Maradona's players in the round of 16. The game was sealed many miles away from the Royal Bafokeng Stadium (where the match was played), for Malouda's goal for France eased the pace of both teams who knew the ticket for the next round was already theirs.Aerial danger
Uruguay started the game as it was supposed, trying to exploit the speed of both Pereyras from the bands to pierce Tri's defense, and a mid distance shot on minute 2 started worrying the Aztec goalkeeper. Five minutes later Luis Suarez was given an exquisite pass which left him face-to-face against Oscar Perez: unfortunately for the Celestes Ajax's top striker sent the ball far from the goal. From that same mistake came Mexico's first dangerous situation: Giovani Dos Santos escaped from one of the bands and sent a high ball to Guillermo Franco, who couldn't connect thus wasting a clear opportunity in front of Uruguay's goal.
The first 30 minutes showed how wrong were those who assumed the game was going to be settled for both teams to qualify: A constant flow of free kicks and corner kicks kept both teams constantly busy, and the posts saved Uruguay two times in the first half. Dos Santos was Tri's ace up their sleeve, for Diego Lugano was constantly fighting to keep up with his pace and Rafa Marquez was always a few meters below ready to expand the field and overwhelm the bands, but Alvaro Pereyra was unstoppable on the right side, and he appeared to be quite determined to give Uruguay their first goal; three times he had the chance to open the score, but Oscar Perez denied him every shot.For five minutes Oscar Tabarez's squad had to do with only 10 players, for Diego Perez was unable to perform thanks to a bleeding cut in his right eye. On minute 39 he returned to the fields and with him Uruguay obtained the momentum they've been looking for. Edinson Cavani sent a superb cross directly into Suarez's area of influence, and he did not hesitate to score his first goal in a World championship.
Playing two games at the same time
The first half ended with Uruguay caressing the top and Mexico waiting for South Africa, who was winning by two goals and could claim the Aztec place if Uruguay scored a third goal.The second half was far more quiet than the first 45 minutes. Mexico was given space to create offensive opportunities, but the players were unable to trouble Muslera between the posts. In the 64th minute Mexico was really close to even the score when Francisco Rodriguez headed a ball just wide in front of the Charrua's goal. Javier Hernandez took Cuauthemoc Blanco's place after this, but even though it did give Mexico a wider perspective and a faster play, it weakened their presence in the last meters of the fields, turning the quest for a goal into an Herculean task.
Unlike most of the times, Uruguay went for the three points and kept the pressure growing for the whole game. The advantage could have been bigger, as Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez had troubles breaking Mexico's defense during the second half. Latin American presence in the second round of this competition, will the Celeste reach the quarter-finals?
