For 70 minutes, Cuauhtémoc Blanco sat in a plush leather chair on the bench, anxiously waiting to make his return to the Mexican national team, anxious to step back on the field at Estadio Azteca.
Finally, Blanco's familiar No. 10 was called, infusing some energy into a partisan crowd who, to that point, was frustrated at the Tricolors. The record will show that the Chicago Fire midfielder didn't score a goal in Mexico's come-from-behind 2-1 win against Honduras Wednesday night, but Blanco changed the course of a game that appeared destined for an upset of monumental proportions.
Instead, Mexico is victorious in Mexico City again, thanks to a Pavel Pardo brace in a three-minute span in a critical World Cup qualifier in CONCACAF's "group of death." Mexico, one of the region's favorites to advance, is on top of the group after the first matchday after Jamaica and Canada played to a 1-1 draw at BMO Field.
But the three points didn't come easy for Mexico.
Honduras took a surprising lead on 35 minutes on a blistering free kick by Julio Cesar De Leon, who put his attempt from 28 yards in off the crossbar.
Mexican captain Rafael Marquez nearly equalized in first-half stoppage time, but his header off a Pardo corner kick went off the post. It was the third time in the opening 45 minutes Mexico put a ball off the woodwork.
Toronto FC midfielder Amado Guevara couldn't get on the end of a cross in the 66th minute that likely would have put the match away for Honduras. And after another close call, Honduras boss Reinaldo Rueda brought on D.C. United's Ivan Guerrero in the 69th minute in an attempt to hold onto the slim lead.
But Pardo equalized with a golazo, ripping a first-time shot off a deflected clearance under the crossbar from 26 yards out in the 74th minute.
Two minutes later, Blanco was fouled on the left edge of the 18-yard box and Pardo served the ball in. Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares appeared to expect a deflection, but one never came as Pardo's shot snuck inside the far post to score what proved to be the game-winner, giving Sven-Goran Eriksson his first victory in charge of the Mexican selection.
Honduras will play host Jamaica in its next qualifier Sept. 10, while Mexico hosts the Canadians, also on Sept. 10.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
