U.S. Soccer
Without key starters Raúl Jiménez and Edson Álvarez, Mexico stepped onto the pitch at AT&T Stadium with a lineup built to compete — but not quite equipped to handle a surging Colombia side that had scored nine goals across its last two outings. From the opening whistle, it was clear this wasn’t going to be an easy night for El Tri.
Colombia’s early pressure paid off in the 17th minute when James Rodríguez, in vintage form, curled in a deadly free kick that Jhon Lucumí tapped home from close range. Mexico goalkeeper Luis Malagón stayed rooted to his line instead of challenging the cross, and the hesitation proved costly. It was a gut punch that set the tone for the evening.
To their credit, Javier Aguirre’s men responded with determination. Mexico began dictating possession and tempo for much of the first half, pressing high and moving the ball crisply through midfield. Santiago Giménez had the best look at an equalizer, but his shot rolled agonizingly wide. For all their effort, El Tri headed into the break down a goal and visibly frustrated.
After halftime, Mexico continued to push. A slick interchange between Alexis Vega and Marcel Ruiz carved open Colombia’s defense, setting up Orbelín Pineda for a golden opportunity. His first-time strike was clean, but David Ospina’s sharp reflexes kept it out — and that save became the turning point.
Moments later, Colombia punished Mexico’s wastefulness. James Rodríguez, pulling strings from midfield, slipped a perfect through ball to Luis Díaz. The Bayern Munich winger sprinted clear and calmly chipped over Malagón to make it 2-0 in the 56th minute. The finish oozed class and confidence — a reminder of why Díaz is one of world football’s most electrifying attackers.
Things unraveled quickly for Mexico. Just ten minutes later, a failed clearance from a cross fell kindly to Jefferson Lerma, who unleashed a thunderous volley into the top corner for Colombia’s third. It was a jaw-dropping strike — pure technique and power — that left Malagón frozen.
By the time Johan Carbonero added a fourth late in the match, the damage was done. Another moment of hesitation from Malagón allowed the Colombian forward to slip the ball between his legs, sealing Mexico’s heaviest defeat in recent memory.
When the final whistle blew, Colombia walked off with confidence and composure — their attack sharp, their transitions ruthless, and their stars shining. Mexico, meanwhile, looked shell-shocked. The performance was energetic at times but ultimately lacked end product and defensive structure.
For Javier Aguirre and his staff, the 4-0 loss serves as a harsh but necessary reminder: El Tri still has a long way to go before it can stand toe-to-toe with the elite. The process may be ongoing, but on this night in Dallas, Colombia showed just how steep the climb remains.
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