Mexicans Fire Blanks

Mexico vs Angola
Hannover

In the opening minute, Mexico's Carlos Salcido lofted the ball onto the Angolan net and that was very much a sign of things to come.

In the fourteenth minute, captain Rafael Marquez hit a free-kick against the post otherwise most of the early play was stopped before it could flow, through niggling fouls; twelve in the first thirty two minutes.

Guillermo Franco finally had a good chance to put Mexico ahead, just before the break, but the ball didn't bounce right and it was shuffled away frantically.

Half-time: (0:0).

Ten minutes into the second half, Ricardo rushed off his line to stretch out his arms and stop a Guillermo Franco lob; the Mexican's second attempt was hooked off the line by Luis Delgado.

Angola started to look more accomplished in their build-up but just missed out on the final ball; inches away from Akwa's head, on the hour.

Five minutes later, a mistake by Joao Jamba let in Omar Bravo, only for Mexico to be foiled again by Ricardo.

Ricardo can look rather hopeless as well, especially when he comes out to flap at a cross and falls helplessly to the ground instead of touching the ball.

The Angola trainer then decided to give Akwa a striking partner, when he brought on Pedro Mantorras for Andre Mateus. Mexico followed with their own front-line substitution, bringing on the popular Francisco Fonseca.

Still no goal with fifteen minutes to go.

Then Angola were reduced to ten men, when Andre Macanga received his second yellow card, for needlessly sticking his hand out to stop the ball, with eleven minutes left on the clock.

After earning himself a yellow card for time wasting, João Ricardo went on to make two excellent saves to keep successive Mexican shots out, as the clock ticked down the final seconds.

Final Score:
Mexico 0 - Angola 0

Teams
Mexico: (Captain Rafael Marquez)
1 Oswaldo Sanchez; 3 Carlos Salcido, 4 Rafael Marquez, 5 Ricardo Osorio, 16 Mario Mendez; 6 Gerardo Torrado, 7 Antonio Naelson, 8 Pavel Pardo, 14 Gonzalo Pineda; 19 Omar Bravo, 10 Guillermo Franco.

Angola: (Captain Fabrice Akwa)
1 Pereira João Ricardo; 3 Joao Jamba, 5 Carlos Kali, 20 Manuel Loco, 21 Luis Delgado; 7 Paulo Figueiredo, 8 Andre Macanga, 11 Andre Mateus, 14 Antonio Mendonca, 17 Jose Ze Kalanga; 10 Fabrice Akwa.

Referee:
Shamsul Maidin (Singapore)