Tecatito pulled out Corona to open the way to the round of 16
Here is another unusual duel, as only this version of the Club World Cup can provide. Face to face for the first time in history, Urawa Red Diamonds and Monterrey arrived at the Rose Bowl in different situations. On the one hand, the Akai Akuma were already eliminated from the competition, after having lost to River Plate (3-1) and Inter Milan (2-1). On the other, the Rayados were still dreaming of the round of 16 and knew in advance that a victory against the Japanese could be decisive in that chapter. Even so, the Mexicans had not yet won in the competition, after having drawn against the Italians (1-1) and the Argentines (0-0).
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“We will try until the last second, until the last ball in play. It will not be easy. I know Japanese football well. I have a coach who has worked there and knows how intense and fast the players are. It is a great opportunity. Monterrey and Mexico are showing themselves to the world in a competition that demands the best. We want to raise the profile of Mexican football. I have made it clear what I want to focus on. I know where I stand. This is the Rayados and here you have to win. It is not enough to win any old way. Over time, we will implement a philosophy that will make our fans proud. It will be a winning philosophy”, Domènec Torrent stated in the preview of the decisive match.
Club World Cup: Urawa x Monterrey
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For the match in Pasadena, Torrent made five changes to his starting eleven, with Ricardo Chávez and Luis Reyes coming in on the wing, replacing Érick Aguirre and Gerardo Arteaga. In the middle, Fidel Ambríz and former FC Porto player Óliver Torres were options in place of Sergio Canales and Jorge Rodriguez, while Alfonso Alvarado came in up front, with Lucas Ocampos coming off the bench. Maciej Skorza only introduced one new player, with Takahiro Sekine replacing Hirokazu Ishihara in his team.
The Mexicans started the match better and, just a few minutes into the game, Alvarado sent the ball to the crossbar of Shusaku Nishikawa's goal, after a cross from former Dragon Jesús Corona (4′). The Red Devils responded with a corner from Matheus Sávio, with the former Estoril player shooting straight at goal, which was safely saved by Esteban Andrada (12′). From then on, Urawa Reds grew in the match and, at the end of a well-worked move, Yusuke Matsuo received the ball inside the area and shot at Ricardo Chávez (24′). Danilo Boza missed the target from the corner (25′). The response came immediately, with Alvarado taking advantage of a defensive opportunity to create danger, but his lob went wide (27′).
In the final stretch of the first half, Monterrey managed to find a way to score... and took the lead, with three goals in nine minutes. Opening the hostilities, Corona combined with Nelson Deossa who, from a long way out, unleashed a powerful shot into the back of the net, surprising Nishikawa (30'). Shortly afterwards, the ex-FC Porto player passed to Alvarado who, with a subtle touch, sent Germán Berterame through, who, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, made no mistake (34'). Finally, Tecatito Corona himself added his name to the list of scorers, with a spectacular spoon-flick from outside the area (39'). In this way, the Mexicans returned to the changing rooms with the victory in their pockets and virtually through (0-3). On the Japanese side, the celebrations were in full swing, as expected.
The goal was also in the early hours of the morning for the Monterrey goalkeeper ????????
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Berterame doesn't make it easy.
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JESUS CORONA ☄️
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In the second half, the Stripes came out all guns blazing and, after another great play by Corona, Chávez shot, but Nishikawa saved it again (47′). In response, Boza tried a corner, but the ball deflected off Sergio Ramos and hit the Mexican post (49′). Soon after, it was Berterame's turn to break through the Japanese defence, but he ended up saving just as he was about to finish (51′). In the final part of the match, Roberto de la Rosa, on his own, missed the fourth goal, which would have come in injury time, with the Mexican forward crossing for Berterame who, at the far post, tapped in for the brace (90+7′).
The pearlBerterame puts the icing on the cake and makes it 4-0! ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
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- Away from the big European stages, Jesús Corona continues to dazzle with his refined touch, whether with his left or right foot. The Mexican was Monterrey's main figure in the first half, being involved in the creation of three goals in nine minutes. After assisting and starting a goal move, Tecatito scored with a great shot from outside the area, leaving the Japanese goalkeeper with no chance.
- Germán Berterame is Monterrey's main attacking figure and, this Thursday, against Urawa Red Diamonds, he showed why. The Mexican striker is not very physical, but he is fast and has an eye for goal, as he showed with his brace .
- Los Rayados knew in advance that victory would pave the way for the round of 16, and so it was. They didn't even have to wait for the other game in Group E. Despite being top of the group almost until the end, Monterrey ended up being overtaken by Inter Milan, but secured their qualification in second place, with five points and, above all, excellent performances. Next up is Borussia Dortmund, in the round of 16.
- In a game that was supposed to qualify for the round of 16, as it turned out, the imposing Rose Bowl was left in a bad light… once again. Perhaps because we are talking about a stadium with a capacity for over 90,000 spectators, this statement is unfair, but what is certain is that the aerial images — which FIFA did not refuse to show on television — showed a very empty stadium. Even so, the Mexicans present did not take it upon themselves to celebrate, despite having “lost” in the stands to the Japanese, who once again taught a lesson, despite the impressive result.
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