“I want to praise, congratulate, the lads for their good game today because every time [we have a match] they do a better job of executing the idea of play that we want and that we are prepared for,” Juan Carlos Osorio told reporters after Mexico’s two-nil win over Costa Rica at the Azteca stadium.
Mexico’s win has momentarily propelled the national team to the top of the CONCACAF Hexagonal [fifth round World Cup qualifying] table with 6 points and a plus 3 goal differential. The win also “represented much for us because we had many notorious absences due to injuries and suspensions,” added Osorio. “It is more important that we won by having an almost absolute control of the match and dominated various moments of the game.”
“The objective was to score an early goal, we then managed to control their reaction, which we accomplished and by the end of the first half we doubled the lead off a set play,” continued the Colombian. “We made the right second-half substitutions; we weren’t going to have space anymore and that is why we put in Jurgen Damm and he did a good job.”
This is the first time in 12 years that the Tricolor has taken the lead in Qualifiers and Osorio plans on keeping it. “We beat a great rival, we won with authority,” assured Osorio of the importance of the win . “We understand that they are are a good team, very well formed, and coached. Now we are where we belong [atop the table] and we will prepare for the next three points [against Trinidad & Tobago].”
“As we continue to meet our objectives – the short term objectives – we will reach our long term objectives in good shape, in a position that leaves Mexican football in a good spot,” finalized Osorio. Mexico’s next match will be on March 28th when they travel to Port of Spain to take on the ‘Socca Warriors.’
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