Mexico vs. Venezuela
Copa America Centenario – Group C
June 13 | 8 pm ET | NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
TV: FS1, Univision, UDN
The top spot in Copa America's Group C is on the line when tournament favorites Mexico face off against surprise package Venezuela in South Texas on Monday night.
Both sides assured themselves of a place in the knockout rounds with a game to spare, thanks to wins over Uruguay and Jamaica. Yet neither is likely to take a foot off the gas in their final group-stage match, because the second-place finisher in this group is likely to meet Lionel Messi's mighty Argentina in the quarterfinals, a task to be avoided if possible. (Both Peru and Ecuador are in the mix to advance alongside La Albiceleste.)
NRG = Azteca Norte?
Mexico can generally count on friendly crowds wherever they play in the United States, but few venues are as hospitable as NRG Stadium. El Tri's visits to the cavernous, retractable-roof behemoth on the south side of Houston draw throngs of fans from across South Texas and beyond, and Venezuela should expect to feel the wrath of a large, dominantly partisan crowd on Monday.
History and form will be on Mexico's side, too. They are riding an 11-game winning (and 21-game unbeaten) streak, have never lost to Venezuela in 12 meetings and are 2-0 against the Vinotinto in Copa America play.
Another mismatch – on paper
Venezuela are considered perennial also-rans in the fierce crucible of CONMEBOL. That stereotype is under assault this month, however, as manager Noel Sanvicente's side mock conventional wisdom with organized defending and skilful, opportunistic counterattacks. Josef Martinez struck to deliver a 1-0 win over Jamaica, then Salomon Rondon – the West Brom striker who headlines the Vinotinto's increasingly ambitious foreign legion – scored the only goal in a major upset of Uruguay. They will be underdogs yet again vs. Mexico, which is surely just how they like it. And this week none other than Mexico starlet Jesus "Tecatito" Corona noted the weak point that Venezuela might be able to exploit.
“Sometimes we're our own worst enemy, because we get exasperated,” Corona said after El Tri's wobbly performance in their fortunate 2-0 win over Jamaica. “We've got to keep playing with this force, this personality. There were 10 minutes where we came out playing well, after that we didn't. We fell into these moments of impatience, but we've got to keep showing character and getting the ball.”
Chicharito chasing history
Mexico hitman Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez notched his 45th goal – in just 84 caps – for his country in the defeat of Jamaica, pushing him just one tally behind all-time scoring leader Jared Borgetti. Cheech will surely eclipse that record sooner or later, and by the time his own career is done, may well leave a dramatically larger total for others to chase.
Yet the Bayer Leverkusen forward has reason to be impatient. His team needs him to keep firing on all cylinders as they rumble towards the Copa final, and a win or draw with Venezuela would push off the fearsome prospect of meeting Messi a bit further. Venezuela's packed defense has yet to concede in this tournament, however.
