C. James has scored a goal for New Zealand! Assist by R. Fallon.
GOAL NEW ZEALAND! Mexico switches off after scoring the fifth and Fallon's header is volleyed home off the post by James. Probably just a consolation, but at least the Kiwis aren't shut out.
84'
R. Márquez has scored a goal for Mexico! Assist by A. Escoboza.
GOAL MEXICO! Rafa Marquez with a header off a short corner kick makes it 5-0! Mission accomplished for El Tri, and more horrible marking from New Zealand
81'
J. Molina enters the game and replaces O. Peralta.
Great cross by Layun from the left and Peralta still had plenty to do. The striker snapped a header to the far post as he was moving backwards to make it 4-0
80'
O. Peralta has scored a goal for Mexico! Assist by M. Layún.
Layun with a rip from distance, but Moss with a diving save! The goalkeeper is probably the only Kiwi to have a good game today
GOAL MEXICO! Peralta with a header and now, surely, Mexico will be in Brazil next summer!
77'
Penalty shout for Mexico! Lochhead with an awkward spinning routine, and he handles the ball after it bounces off the ground, but the referee waves claims away
76'
L. Bertos gets yellow.
73'
Off the ensuing corner, Marquez is all alone, and his sidefooted volley goes just wide. More awful marking from the Kiwis
Minute
Description
72'
Marquez hits the free kick and it's a good one, heading for the far corner, but Moss dives and punches away well
71'
A. Durante gets yellow.
Durante picks up a yellow card after a tough challenge on Aguilar. The defender was a split second late, and bowled over the Mexico right wing back
69'
Escoboza gets a good cross off, but New Zealand defends that one well, otherwise Jimenez would've had his second
67'
R. Fallon enters the game and replaces C. Wood.
65'
New Zealand pressing higher up the field when Mexico has the ball now. Could be a disaster, but probably necessary at this point
64'
A. Escoboza enters the game and replaces C. Peña.
63'
20-year-old Escoboza now on, making just his third international appearance.
61'
Slightly more positive possession for the Kiwis now, but nothing really troubling Munoz in goal, as the Mexico backline has stood firm
59'
Sinha enters the game and replaces L. Montes.
M. Rojas enters the game and replaces J. Brockie.
Montes out for Mexico, and the veteran Sinha is on in his place
57'
I. Vicelich gets yellow.
56'
Free kick for New Zealand is eventually cleared away. The Kiwis will likely need to take advantage of those chances if they're to get anything from this game
53'
C. James enters the game and replaces J. Christie.
Montes fires just high from the top of the box, and he must have been shocked to see absolutely nobody marking him as he dribbled
52'
The Kiwis may have to attack a bit now. Even a 3-0 deficit at home would probably be too much to overcome. Of course, it's way more likely to get worse for them with 40 minutes still to play
49'
Marquez finds Layun down the left side and the America man's low pull back finds a wide open Peralta, who has the easiest of tasks from six yards out. More slack marking from the Kiwis
48'
O. Peralta has scored a goal for Mexico! Assist by M. Layún.
GOAL MEXICO! Peralta finishes from close and El Tri has one foot in the World Cup!!
47'
Wood just high and wide! The striker cuts in from the right and shoots just wide of the far corner. Closest New Zealand has come so far
46'
We are underway in the second half!
45'
Free kick chance for New Zealand before the half from the left flank
43'
This is just a shooting gallery right now for El Tri. New Zealand needs to get into halftime at 2-0 and try to regroup
40'
R. Jiménez has scored a goal for Mexico! Assist by C. Peña.
GOAL MEXICO! Jimenez scores a header from inside the six-yard box off the ensuing corner. Horrible marking by the Kiwis, who allowed Pena to win the initial header inside the box with nobody around him.
39'
Two huge saves by Moss! First he denies Pena from close, then dives to keep out a ridiculous flying back-heel volley by Jimenez
37'
Goal Mexico! But it's waved off for offside! Aguilar's shot is poked home by Peralta from close range, and upon replay, the linesman got that one right. Still worrying for New Zealand
36'
Huge task now for New Zealand, which can't afford to concede much more, but still can't hold onto the ball
33'
Montes puts a cross in and Durante runs into his onrushing keeper when heading away, and Aguilar steals in to finish into an open net.
32'
P. Aguilar has scored a goal for Mexico!
GOAL MEXICO! Paul Aguilar cleans up a rebound and that had been coming for a long time.
30'
Mexico's center backs spending more time on New Zealand's half than their own. Complete domination for El Tri so far except, of course, on the scoreboard
27'
Now Jimenez with a breakaway chance, but his shot goes straight into Moss's arms. The America striker needs to do better there
26'
86% possession for Mexico so far
25'
Things looking very ominous thus far for the Kiwis, who really can't keep hold of the ball for long and have been constantly under pressure
24'
Maza off the crossbar! The defender lets fly from distance and his powerful strike is tipped onto the bar by Moss. Great strike
22'
Layun cuts in but his shot dribbles wide. Plenty of pressure from El Tri so far, but no paydirt
18'
New Zealand clears off the line! So close to the opener for Mexico! Jimenez with a flying volley from close and Moss punches it away. So close, but didn't appear to cross the line
17'
Chance for El Tri! Peralta heads wide from close range after getting in between the center backs. Should've done better there
16'
C. Wood gets yellow.
Wood goes up for a long clearance and gets his elbow up on Marquez, earning a yellow card. He's now out for the second leg. Big loss for New Zealand
13'
Jimenez found all alone behind the defense, but Durante comes over to tackle away. Warning sign for the Kiwis
12'
Moss with some dodgy goalkeeping there, coming off his line to punch away, but he can only get a slight hand on the ball, allowing Jimenez to shoot from distance with the goal open, but his shot is blocked
10'
Good delivery by Lochhead but just a bit high at the far post. Set pieces will likely be the Kiwis' best chance to score today
9'
Finally, New Zealand gets the ball in Mexico's half, and Maza tackles Brockie to earn a free kick
7'
Pena with an opening, but he can't get a decent cross in. Aguilar then collects on the right flank before shooting well wide. With New Zealand looking compact, Mexico will have some space wide
5'
Plenty of possession for El Tri, but no penetration as yet. Vicelich with a clearance for the Kiwis
2'
Mexico with early possession, and the Kiwis looking to clear up to lone striker Chris Wood when they get the ball
1'
We are underway!
Hello and good afternoon! Welcome to Goal USA's coverage of today's World Cup qualifying playoff first leg between Mexico and New Zealand. I'm Seth Vertelney and I'll take you through all of today's action
Here is today's Mexico starting XI (5-3-2): Muñoz, Layún, Márquez, Valenzuela, Rodriguez, Aguilar; Medina, Montes, Peña; Peralta, Jiménez
Here's the New Zealand lineup: Moss, Lochhead, Smith, Bertos, McGlinchey, Vicelich, Brockie, Barbarouses, Wood, Christie, Durante - No Smeltz, Rojas.
For Mexico, seven of the 11 starters come from Club America, new coach Miguel Herrera's former team. Not a huge surprise, as they'll be used to playing his 5-3-2 system which converts to 3-5-2 when El Tri is in attack
For New Zealand, defense and staying behind the ball will be key. The Kiwis' formation will likely look like a 5-4-1 for most of the game, as the team looks to take a manageable scoreline into next week's second leg at home
Here come the teams onto the field at the Azteca. New Zealand, known as the All Whites, are ironically in all black.
Anthems are over and we're just about ready!
Halftime. A great performance for Mexico, and equally terrible from New Zealand. It's 2-0 and it could be 5-0 easily. 82% possession for El Tri
That's it! Mexico completely dominates New Zealand 5-1 and barring a complete collapse next week in Wellington, El Tri will be in Brazil next summer
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