After riding some good fortune to advance from the group stage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the luck quickly ran out for FC Dallas goalkeeper Richard Sanchez and the rest of the Mexican Under-20 national team.
Facing pre-tournament favorites Spain in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, Mexico took an early lead thanks to a stunning volley from Arturo González within two minutes of the opening whistle.
El Tri then dominated large stretches of the match, but a combination of poor finishing and the woodwork kept them from adding another goal against the shell-shocked Spaniards.
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Mexico's profligacy in front of goal came back to haunt them late on, as defender Derik Osede netted in the 74th minute to tie things up.
Osede's Real Madrid teammate, Jesé – who also scored two goals in Spain's 4-1 group stage win over the US – then dealt the killer blow just as the game looked to be headed to extra time. On the stroke of 90 minutes, the winger collected the ball just outside the area and fired in a shot that took a slight deflection, enough to catch Sanchez flat-footed and roll into the goal.
Chivas USA's Julio Morales was a 90th-minute substitute, but could do nothing to help Mexico get back into it.
Jesé's winner denied Mexico a chance to face Uruguay in the quarterfinals and ended CONCACAF's run in this year's U-20 World Cup. The US, El Salvador and Cuba were all eliminated in the group stages.
