Action from the international friendly between Mexico (white jersey) and Trinidad & Tobago on September 4, 2015, in Sandy, Utah. (Photo: Mexsport)
SANDY, Utah – Similar to their CONCACAF Gold Cup meeting in July, Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago battled to another high-scoring draw, knotting at 3-3 in an international friendly on Friday before a capacity crowd of 20,560 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Less than two months ago, the sides clashed to a 4-4 standoff. On this occasion, the Mexicans had the last say as Hector Herrera struck from distance late in the encounter to complete the scoreline.
In Ricardo Ferretti’s debut as interim head coach, the Tricolor extended its unbeaten streak to nine consecutive games. After opening 2015 with three straight losses, Trinidad hasn’t been defeated in its last five outings.
The Trinidadians – despite playing without captain and striker Kenwyne Jones – jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
Forward Jonathan Glenn opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a diving header at the edge of the six-yard box. After a seemingly innocuous right-footed effort by Keron Cummings from outside the box deflected off defender Oswaldo Alanis and looped towards the goal, the 28-year-old reacted quickly to capitalize.
In the 39th minute, Glenn did all the hard work to double the advantage. He hustled to dispossess Alanis on the right endline, raced into the box and picked out Cummings, who hit the back of the net from nine-yards out.
A minute later, Mexico halved the deficit as Jorge Torres Nilo’s left-sided cross was headed home by Carlos Esquivel at the penalty spot.
The Mexicans were back on level terms 10 minutes following the break. Raul Jimenez combined on a neat give-and-go with Esquivel, before firing a shot from the right side of the box off diving goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams’ hands and into the net, but not before glancing off defender Daneil Cyrus’ head. The Benfica forward also scored the only goal in Mexico’s 1-0 win over Trinidad in the 2013 Gold Cup quarterfinals.
Impervious Trinidad refused to be rattled by the turn of events. The Caribbean runner-up went back in front in the 69th minute, when the Mexican wall split on Joevin Jones’ 19-yard free kick from the right, allowing the ball to sail into the net untouched.
Then with six minutes left in normal time, Herrera equalized in thunderous fashion. Carlos Vela rolled a right-sided corner kick to Herrera standing 30 yards from goal and the Porto standout one-timed it past Williams.
Mexico returns to action Tuesday against Argentina in Arlington, Texas, while Trinidad & Tobago must wait until October 8 to meet Panama.
