Jon’s — Ultimate National Challenge

Hello everyone,

I’ve made a decision on what I will do regards to Mexico… I’ve decided I am going to keep with Mexico in till the end of the year, I want to get Mexico to the World Cup and I might even take them there but That’s a whole year away so I’ll decide when it comes to that.

So as you can see Mexico have a busy remainder of the year, playing five World Cup Qualifiers and one friendly, I can see us bagging all 15 points from these games and if results are to go Mexico’s way they could be right up there in the table 2nd or even 3rd.

So if it ends, Mexico would be put into a draw for the play-offs where from what I no we would play two matches home and away and based on who wins that will be in the World Cup. But I do not plan to be 4th by the end of this I am looking for 2nd maybe a bit ambitious with Costa Rica doubling my points at the moment but let’s see how it all pans out.

Right so let’s kick off with the first match and that is Mexico vs USA, a team who we managed to beat 6-1 in the Gold Cup Semi Finals. So I would of personally thought it would be another easy win but boy was I wrong, although we did win 1-0 we only just about done it. Was a tough match but here is the match report.

Match report —

Mexico 1 – 0 United States (World Cup Quals (NAM) 3^rd phase)

Mexico won a hard fought battle against United States on a fine autumn evening at Estadio Azteca.

Mexico finally took the lead when striker Javier Hernandez scored a placed shot on 44 minutes. Mexico also saw their 54^th minute strike questionably chalked off.

Both teams had a number of attempts at goal, which promised much, but the quality of finishing was poor throughout.

Here are the highlights from tonight’s game, Mexico vs U.S.A (1080p);

After the USA game Mexico have pushed up one spot in the table as they leapfrog Canada.

Next on the list to face Mexico are Costa Rica who are sitting 4 points above Mexico and a win here today will leave Mexico only a point less than USA and Costa Rica. With Costa Rica beating Mexico before in a fixture 3-2 it looked the opposite tonight as Mexico beat Costa Rica 3-2, here is the match report.

Match report —

Costa Rica 2 – 3 Mexico (World Cup Quals (NAM) 3^rd phase)

Costa Rica had no answer to Mexico’s prowess from dead-ball situations as Mexico scored all their goals from Set-pieces on a fine afternoon at Ricardo Saprissa Ayma.

Striker Javier Hernandez gave Mexico the lead with a tap-in in the 23^rd minute. Striker Jean Carlo Solorzano then equalised for Costa Rica in the 28^th minute with a powerful effort from the edge of the area.

Mexio also saw their 46^th minute strike questionably chalked off. Winger Abraham Ramirez then put the away side in front after 55 minutes with a well-timed finish from close range.

Mexico also saw their 57^th minute strike questionably chalked off. Guarch scored with a close range header in the 70^th minute to extend the lead further.

Striker Edgar Monge gave the Costa Rica fans a glimmer of hope after 73 minutes with a close range finish which was timed impeccably.

Here are the highlights from tonight’s game, Costa Rica vs Mexico (1080p);

After the Costa Rica vs Mexico game not places had been changed, only USA has managed to secure a Play-off place.

Next on my list to face Mexico was Trinidad and Tobago who are currently sitting 5th in the table and are 5 points behind 4th spot. Last time out Mexico managed to grab a draw against them and we pushed into the semi finals via penalties. Although today was a different story we completely out classed Trinidad and Tobago tonight. Here is the match report.

Match report —

Mexico 5 – 1 Trinidad and Tobago (World Cup Quals (NAM) 3^rd phase)

Mexico fans celebrated an emphatic 5 – 1 win at Estadio Azteca this evening.

Striker Javier Hernandez got Mexico off to a flyer by scoring a fluke goal after just one minute. Midfielder Erick Torres doubled Mexico’s lead with a powerful close range effort on 4 minutes.

Ramirez scored with a powerful effort in the 30^th minute to extend the lead further. Experienced Striker Kenwyne Jones pulled one back for Trinidad and Tobago after 34 minutes with an effort from the edge of the area which curled past the goalkeeper.

Things went from bad to worse for Trinidad and Tobago as experienced centre-back Yohance Marshall earned himself an early bath for ungentlemanly conduct on 45minutes. Midfielder Jesus Eduardo Zavala then added to the lead with an eighteen-yard screamer on 77 minutes.

Midfielder Carlos Alberto Pena competed the rout with a long range curling shot on 84 minutes.

Here are the highlights from tonight’s game, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago (1080p);

So what’s the standings now in the league? Well it looks like this…. USA and Costa Rica have qualified for the 2018 World Cup so that means only one space is now left and that is for either Mexico or Canada.

Next up for Mexico was Canada, the game would decide if Mexico would qualify for the World Cup or have to play the waiting game. For some bizarre reason I haven’t got the match report for this game as I couldn’t find it on my mail but I’ve got the highlights instead and another picture instead.

Here are the highlights from tonight’s game, Canada and Mexico (1080p);

Now on to the last match of the update, a game against El Salvador a team who I’ve managed to beat twice since I’ve been here and they have both been 7-0 so it was going to be a walk through again surely? Well it was a win and that was 4-1 but a win well deserved. Here is the match report.

Match report —

El Salvador 1 – 4 (World Cup Quals (NAM) 3^rd Phase)

Mexico enjoyed near total domination over a distinctly average El Salvador side at Estadio Jorge Magico Gonzalez this evening.

Things did not get off to a good start for El Salvador as midfielder Erick Torres seized on an error by Arturo Alarez to score a deftly executed finish. Striker Rodolfo Zalaya then equalised for El Salvador in the 33^rd minute with a real poacher’s effort.

Sweeper Marvin Gonzalez was left red-faced in the 37^th minute as he managed to put the ball into his own net.

Things went from bad to worse for El Salvador as midfielder Ramon Velasquez earned himself an early bath for a vicious foul on 45 minutes.

Hernandez scored with an accurate finish in the 85^th minute to extend the lead further. The last goal of the game came from young goalkeeper Ever Quintanilla whose 90^th minute own-goal will undoubtedly cause him some embarrassment.

Here are the highlights from tonight’s game, El Salvador and Mexico (1080p);

So where does this leave Mexico, it leaves us 4 points behind USA and two points ahead of Costa Rica. So yes I managed to go from 4th spot into 2nd spot behind USA so I’d say it was a very successful campaign from where I took off.

Finally last off, the groups have been drawn for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Well it wasn’t kind to Mexico at all in anyway! We managed to draw Japan, France and Brazil!!!!!!! I was like for F*CK sake!

Do I take Mexico into the World Cup and just see what happens or do I leave before hand and say I left Mexico on top?

You shall find out next time!