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Chile 7-0 Mexico: How El Tri fell apart against Chile

By on June 19, 2016

Mexico’s much-vaunted twenty-two match unbeaten streak snapped in an ignominious 7-0 loss at Levi’s Stadium in the Copa America Centenario quarterfinals.  How was such an embarrassment ever possible?

Chile expose Mexico’s gaping flaws

Mexico had been the team to beat heading into the Copa Centenario knockout stages, having gone 364 days without losing.   Yet Chile sent Juan Carlos Osorio’s men tumbling back to earth in spectacular fashion with a numbing 7-0 smackdown, shipping more goals past Mexico in ninety minutes than El Tri’s last thirteen opponents. Eduardo Vargas alone netted four goals and Edson Puch and Alexis Sanchez rounded out an incredible rout to lead Chile into the semifinals of the anniversary edition of the Copa.

But what one Mexican journalist described as the “blackest night in the history of Mexican soccer” began quite brightly for El Tri.  The pre-match buildup was focused on Mexico, who enjoyed the majority of the support in the 70,000 plus crowd. Chicharito had led Mexico to the top of Group C and his goal against Jamaica took him one away from Jared Borgetti’s goalscoring record for the national team.

Yet Mexico’s flaws became all too apparent very early on.  The high tempo stretched their defense to a dangerous extent and Chile’s dynamic attacking force weaved further disarray through Mexico’s backline.

Mexico lacked organization at the back and suddenly, Osorio’s decision to change his goalkeeper in each of Mexico’s four games seemed catastrophic.  His choice of Jesus Duenas in a holding midfield role over Rafa Marquez or Jesus Molina was another head scratcher.

Mexico were vulnerable in transitions, with Chile quickly breaking through the middle and then attacking down the wings.  Just sixteen minutes in, Alexis Sanchez danced down the right wing and the ball was cut back to Marcelo Diaz, who arrowed a low effort on target from twenty-five yards. Ochoa parried, but the ball rebounded right to Puch, who cooly converted.

Chile prove their staying power

Reigning champions Chile had more to prove than any other team heading into the Quarterfinals after an inauspicious 2-1 loss to Argentina in their first game of the tournament.  They more than answered the call with the biggest victory in the Copa since 1975, a performance that gives them the momentum to spark a sharp shift in their fortunes midway through the tournament.

Eduardo Vargas had a historically good night, becoming the first Chilean player to score four in a single Copa game since 1926. He opened his account on forty-four minutes, breaking away from his lackadaisical marker to convert Sanchez’s cross past Ochoa from close range.

Chile’s second goal was a direct result of their incessant pressing, with Sanchez pouncing on Hector Moreno’s poor touch and slipping Vidal in down the left at breakneck speed.  The Arsenal midfielder then broke into the box to tuck away Vidal’s cut back from fifteen yards.

Said triumphant coach Juan Antonio Pizzi: “We didn’t give Mexico a chance. We were the winners by far in the individual duels,” he said. “These players are writing the most brilliant pages in the history of Chilean football. I hope we can keep adding to it.”

Sanchez poked Vargas in on a fast break to bag Chile’s forth and they added another in the fifty-sixth minute as Vargas got on the end of the rebound from Ochoa’s save.

Yet Pizzi’s men were far from done: Vargas grabbed another before the night was over and Puch chipped Ochoa to top off the rout.  Colombia awaits in the semifinals on Wednesday night in Chicago.

Osorio apologizes for historic defeat

Javier Hernandez has avoided the press all throughout the tournament but felt compelled to explain such a defeat to reporters after the game.  Addressing the Mexican people, he said: “Sorry, we are very embarrassed.  [The loss] hurts our soul and mine in particular.”

The Mexican fans had every right to be hungry for answers.  At one point, they even turned the highly controversial “puto” chant on their own goalkeeper and even the security guard behind Osorio on the sidelines threw down his cap in disgust after Chile’s fourth goal.

There were no positives to take away for Mexico, no silver linings.  This was as comprehensive of a beatdown as there ever has been on such a big stage.  Osorio could only ask for forgiveness.  “It was an embarrassment. It was a very poor performance from us and I repeat: Many apologies to the Mexican people,” he said in his post-match press conference.

The Colombian and his players took full responsibility for the defeat, Osorio saying he “erred in the selection of the starting lineup and in the tactical part,” per The Guardian.

Homepage photo credit: Fanny Schertzer (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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.