Rodolfo Pizarro (left) celebrates after scoring in Mexico's win over Senegal in an international friendly on February 10, 2016, in Miami. (Photo: Mexsport)
MIAMI, Fla. – Jesus Dueñas and Rodolfo Pizarro struck late in the second half to lift Mexico past Senegal 2-0 in an international friendly on Wednesday at Marlins Park.
The Tricolor extended its unbeaten streak to 15 games and improved to 3-0-0 under new head coach Juan Carlos Osorio, following up on World Cup Qualifying wins over El Salvador (3-0) and Honduras (2-0) in November.
Fielding a side comprised exclusively of Liga MX players, the CONCACAF champion finally broke through in the 73rd minute. Monterrey’s Candido Ramirez, who entered the match one minute earlier, sent a ball into the area from the left touchline. Dueñas, a Santos midfielder, leapt between a pair of defenders to head in from the edge of the six-yard box.
Pizarro added an insurance goal with three minutes left in normal time, heading home from eight yards off a perfect cross from Pachuca teammate Hirving Lozano.
Unable to turn its dominance in possession into shots on target in the opening 45 minutes, Mexico pressured Senegal goalkeeper Papa Ndiaye numerous times after halftime.
In the 49th minute, Ndiaye saved a close-range header by Pumas forward Eduardo Herrera and then stopped a Lozano effort from distance 16 minutes afterwards.
The best opportunity in the second half for Senegal came two minutes earlier as Ibrahima Diop dribbled into the 18-yard box unmarked only to sail his attempt wide right from 15 yards.
Mexico returns to World Cup Qualifying play with matches against Canada on March 25 (away) and March 29 (home).
