Sep 11, 2008 - 3:47 AM
0 shoutsTUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Mexico (Ticker) -- Omar Tordecillas Bravo and Rafael Marquez each scored second-half goals on Wednesday to propel Mexico to a 2-1 triumph over Canada in a qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The loss at Estadio Victor Manuel Reyna continued the Canadians' 51-year dry spell on Mexican soil and dropped them to 3-15-6 overall vs. Mexico since 1957.
"This one was always going to be a tough one, probably the toughest game in CONCACAF - playing Mexico away from home," Canada coach Dale Mitchell said. "We did everything we could to get a result tonight, but we didn't get it."
Just two minutes after entering the game as a substitute, Bravo opened the scoring in the 55th minute on a header before Marquez added an insurance tally with a header of his own in the 72nd minute for Mexico (3-0-0).
After 13 years of playing for Mexico, Cuauhtemoc Blanco announced his international retirement before the start of the match. He was brought on as a late substitute and honored with a tribute from Marquez, the Mexican team captain.
"The decision was already made," Blanco said. "I'm content. I believe that my time in the selection is done."
Mexican coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has opted to play younger strikers Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela in recent matches against Honduras and Jamaica, wanted to pay his respect to Blanco while also ensuring that his team accomplished what it set out to do.
"I hope I did not disrespect him; I did what was best for the team, which was winning three points," Eriksson said. "With a different score, maybe he would have played more. We showed respect because he played in all three matches."
Mexico holds a three-point advantage in Group Two play over Honduras (2-0-1), which defeated Jamaica (0-2-1), 2-0, on Wednesday.
Canada (0-2-1), which halved the deficit in the 77th minute on a goal by Ali Gerba, fell into last place in Group Two with the defeat.
Mexico won all of its games at home and will visit the other three teams in Group Two, starting on October 11, when it will face Jamaica.
That same day, Canada will resume group play when it travels to Francisco Morazan to meet Honduras.
"There are still three matches left to play," Mitchell said. "We have to approach them with the right mentality."
