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Tricolores become first CONCACAF team to win a match at inaugural FIFA tournament in China
After not conceding a goal, but finishing only in third-place at the inaugural CONCACAF Under-16 Tournament two years earlier, Mexico clearly had unfinished business when it hosted the second edition of the championship in the country's capital of Mexico City in May 1985.
Under the direction of head coach Roberto Rodriguez, the Tricolores went unbeaten, winning six of seven matches on their way to their first CONCACAF title, while also earning one of three regional qualifying berths to the inaugural FIFA U-16 World Tournament (now known as the FIFA U-17 World Cup) in China.
Former player from that Mexican squad Ramon Raya, who is now at the helm of the country's beach soccer and futsal teams -- and is the only CONCACAF head coach to have qualified them to their respective FIFA Tournaments -- remembers the U-16 confederation event.
"It was a wonderful time for me," said Raya. "It was the first time I put on a national team jersey and played at the Estadio Azteca. We went on to become champions of that CONCACAF qualifier and I remember was I named MVP of the tournament, so I had only good memories of that event."
The Tricolores began their road to the first FIFA tournament in China, behind a four-goal performance from Elias Ledezma in the 9-0 victory over the Netherlands Antilles (now Curacao) in front of 40,000 spectators at the Estadio Azteca on May 12. Raya added three more in the Group A triumph, while Jose Israel Castillo and Jose Luis Ramirez contributed one each.
Ledezma scored five times at the Estadio Jesus Martinez in Mexico's 10-0 win over Panama two days later. Castillo also remained hot, posting a hat-trick (three goals), plus Guillermo Ortiz netted twice.
Raya had his second hat-trick of the tournament to lead the Tricolores in a 7-0 triumph over Guatemala at the Estadio Azulgrana (now Estadio Azul) on May 16.
Mexico concluded group play 48 hours later with a perfect 4-0-0 record after Ledezma scored the game-winner in a 1-0 triumph over Honduras at the Estadio Azulgrana.
With the first-place sealed, the Tricolores moved on to the final round group and started with a 3-0 defeat of Canada on May 22 thanks to tallies from Ortiz, Castillo and Raya.
Two days later, at the same Estadio Azulgrana, Castillo and Ledezma scored twice, while Raya and Jesus Luis Garcia each added one in a 6-0 win over Honduras that secured Mexico a berth to the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Cup.
Mexico clinched its first Confederation U-16 title and extended its CONCACAF unbeaten streak to 11 matches after playing Costa Rica to a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Centro de Capacitación on May 26.
Ledezma gave the host the lead in the first half (24'), however, Hernan Medford equalized for the Ticos in the second stanza (58'), snapping the Tricolores' 898-minute shutout streak in tournament play dating back to the 1983 CONCACAF event in Trinidad & Tobago.
"We played almost every team entered in this tournament and I had the chance to score a lot of goals," Raya recalls. "That tournament gave me the confidence that I would have a chance to continue my playing career as a professional."
Mexico was joined by runner-up Costa Rica and the 1983 tournament champion United States at the FIFA U-16 World Tournament in China.
At the FIFA event, the Tricolores competed in Group D and opened with a scoreless draw against Hungary in Shanghai on July 31.
Raya, though, had personal concerns during the tournament lead up: "I injured myself (knee) two weeks before the tournament started and did not inform the delegation when we were in China, however, I still played the first two matches (Hungary, Qatar).
"I was taping myself in the locker room without the knowledge of the delegation's doctor as I didn't want anyone to know that I was hurt. With 15 minutes remaining I twisted my ankle against Qatar and requested a substitution. I knew after that things wouldn't be the same for me."
In that game against Qatar at the same Shanghai venue on August 2, Mexico trailed early, before Ledezma scored twice and Francisco Cortes added another for a 3-1 victory.
The win was the first by a CONACAF team at the tournament, with the U.S. earning the second triumph a few hours later against Bolivia, 2-1, in Beijing.
Raya added: "Before the last game against Brazil, our head of delegation, who was also from my club team in Mexico (Club América), informed me that I wasn't going to play because of my injury. And we lost so it was very sad memories as the injury pretty much ended my professional playing career."
Mexico fell 2-0 to the South Americans, closing out the first round in Shanghai on August 4. The result eliminated the Tricolores as they finished third (with three points) in group play behind Hungary and Brazil with five and four points, respectively.
The Tricolores have gone on to capture three more CONCACAF crowns along with two FIFA titles at this age level (U-16/17). The two world championships (Peru 2005, Mexico 2011) makes Mexico the fourth overall nation (first CONCACAF) to win multiple FIFA U-17 titles.
1985 CONCACAF Under-16 Championship
Mexico City, Mexico
Group A
12.05: Mexico - Netherlands Antilles 9:0
14.05: Mexico - Panama 10:0
16.05: Mexico - Guatemala 7:0
18.05: Mexico - Honduras 1:0
Final Group
22.05: Mexico - Canada 3:0
24.05: Mexico - Honduras 6:0
26.05: Mexico - Costa Rica 1:1
1985 FIFA U-16 World Tournament
Shanghai, China
Group D
31.07: Mexico - Hungary 0:0
02.08: Qatar - Mexico 1:3
04.08: Brazil - Mexico 2:0
Note - All were 80-minute matches
