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MOTD: Netherlands 2-3 Mexico

By on November 12, 2014

Mexico have finally gotten over the penalty. Or, as they claim, Arjen Robben’s flop which lead to their loss to the Netherlands in the 2014 World Cup Second Round. That moment in that game – 137 days ago – had haunted them ever since. The only way, it seems, for them to get past it, was to beat the Dutch today and have their revenge.

Many, including Mexico coach Miguel Herrera, admitted they had to get over the penalty, though when Robben voiced his opinion on the matter his thoughts weren’t as accepted. But today, it was clear they hadn’t. The saying “No era penal” (it wasn’t a penalty) decked the away end at the Amsterdam Arena, and have wracked Mexican supporter’s minds since the call. They couldn’t get over it, until they had their revenge today. The win lets them move on, and get past the defeat even with its difficult nature; prepare for the next World Cup, and even sooner, the next CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Furthermore, their two forwards Carlos Vela and Chicharito, also proved many wrong. The former scored two goals on the night in his first match for El Tri since 2011, while the latter bagged what would be the winner and therefore silencing his critics after struggling to break into Real Madrid’s starting eleven since joining the club over the summer. In the end, it’s fair to say every Mexico fan will sleep well tonight based on not only their result, but performance. They weren’t necessarily dominant, but rather worked for their win. It may be even more fulfilling considering they didn’t win – like they said the Dutch did over the summer – via luck. If anything, El Tri were unlucky.

Daley Blind’s late consolation goal only went in via a deflection, and nearly cost Mexico the win. In fact, in the eighty-sixth minute the Netherlands nearly equalized as they forced Guillermo Ochoa into a brilliant save from a corner and proceeded to blast the rebound over from point blank range.

Mexico had taken the lead just eight minutes in as Vela sent a beautiful twenty-five yard curler into the bottom corner, though Wesley Sneijder’s bullet from even further out put the scoresheet level. However, Vela bagged another on the other side of the half with a low effort from the left side of the box, before Chicharito finished a third off after finding himself in behind Netherlands coach Guus Hiddink’s defense. For the Dutch, the result won’t matter but certainly demoralize them, especially coming as Hiddink’s fourth loss in just five games since taking over the Dutch after the World Cup. Without a win later in the international break, he may well find his job already in jeopardy.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.