Brazil top Mexico 3-2 at Texas A&M's Kyle Field

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS (June 8, 2024) In front of 85,249 fans at Kyle Field, on the campus of Texas A&M University, Brazil edged out Mexico on the College Stayion stop of MexTour 2024, with a last-minute goal, winning 3-2 in a thrilling match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.

The action kicked off early with Brazil’s Andreas Pereira finding the net just five minutes into the game, thanks to a great assist from Savio De Oliveira. The first half continued with intense play but no further goals, leaving Brazil with a 1-0 lead at halftime.

The second half saw Brazil doubling their lead when Gabriel Silva scored in the 54th minute, assisted by Yan Couto. This put Mexico under immense pressure, and they responded fiercely. Mexico's Julian Quiñones, coming off the bench, scored in the 73rd minute after a beautiful setup by Alexis Vega, giving Mexico hope.

The atmosphere grew even more electric as the match approached its end. In stoppage time, Mexico’s Guillermo Martinez scored an equalizer in the 92nd minute, sending the crowd into a frenzy. It seemed like the match was headed for a draw.

However, Brazil had other plans. In the 6th minute of added time in the second half, Endrick Sousa, assisted by Vinicius Junior, scored the winning goal, sealing a dramatic victory for Brazil.

Santos tops Monterrey 1-0 in Houston friendly

Photo by Darla Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 18, 2022) The 6,000-plus fans at PNC Stadium on Saturday night saw to rivals from Liga MX faceoff in a friendly preseason match which saw Santos Laguna take a 1-0 win over CF Monterrey.

Spirited and aggressive play by both sides kept the match scoreless until in 79th minute when forward Harold Preciado came off the bench for the only goal of the game to secure the win for Santos.

In the 40th minute, fans were brought to the feet when medical personal were called onto the pitch to attend to Santos' Ismael Govea. The starting defender was taken from the field on a gurney and his condition was unknown at the time of this article's publication.

In the previous five matches between Rayados and Santos, the were even, with two wins on each side and only one draw. In their most recent meeting, Monterrey won at home on matchday 13 of the Clausura 2022.

With just a few days before a  new tournament in Mexico and the countdown to the Apertura 2022 beginning The match was a key pre-tournament tune-up prior to the start of the upcoming season. 

Liga MX cancels season due to COVID-19 pandemic

Photo courtesy of Angel Chavez on pixabay.com

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (May 23, 2020) Liga MX, the top level professional soccer league in Mexico, has announced it has cancelled the remainder of their 2019-2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season was initially suspended on March 15 with seven rounds left to be played. Cruz Azul and Leon, who were in first and second place in the team standings at the time of the suspension, will advance to the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.

Plans were being make to resume play in one city without fans, but with Santos Laguna announcing yesterday that 15 players had tested positive for the virus, club owners voted to shut down the season. In a prepared statement league officials were quoted:

“It’s undisputed that we are living in unprecedented times in our country, which forces the soccer industry in Mexico to act with absolute reason and respond with unity to the requirements that have been presented to us."

Mexico’s Clausura season usually runs from January to May, and had run 10 match weeks before the coronavirus pause. 

Monterrey outlasts Club America 2-1 in Tour Aguila

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 16, 2019) Scoring two goals in the first half,  C.F. Monterrey held on for a 2-1 win against Club America in an exhibition friendly game as a part Tour Aguila at BBVA Stadium in Houston, Texas. America took an early 1-0 lead in the 7th minute off a penalty kick by defender Emanuel Aguilera.

Monterrey responded with a goal from Daniel Parra, with an assist credited to Alfonso Gonzalez, in the 16th minute. They score the game-winner five minutes later on a Vincent Janessen goal. Dorian Paboni provided the assist.

Tour Aguila is the official United States tour of Club America dating back to July 3, 2016.

Tigres down Club America on penalty kicks; advance to Leagues Cup final

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 20, 2019) In a match that saw two own goals, Tigres UNAL downed Club America 2-2 on penalties. Tigers outscored America 5-3 to take the match and advance to the final of the 2019 Leagues Cup.

It did not take long for Tigres to get on the scoreboard, due to an own goal by Club America defender Paul Aguilar on the 14th minute. Club America answered with a penalty kick goal by Andres Ibarguen to tie the score at one-all at the half. The Columbian secured a brace when he gave America the lead in the 83rd minute. Tigres tied the score in added time of the second half on an own goal by Bruno Valdez; sending the game to penalties. Tigres will face Cruz Azul in the Cup final. La Maquina advanced to the final by downing the LA Galaxy 2-1. 

The 2019 Leagues Cup is the inaugural edition of Leagues Cup, a club competition featuring four clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX in an eight-team single-elimination tournament hosted in the United States. It began on July 23, 2019, with the first set of quarterfinals, and will culminate in a final match played in Las Vegas on September 18, 2019.

Mexico nips Costa Rica in penalty kicks

 Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (memo) had a
great game in front of the net against Costa Rica.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyrightr 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 29, 2019) After 120 minutes of play and a tied score, Mexico had to rely on penalty kicks to record the win over Costa Rica to advance to the semi-finals of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup at NRG Stadium in Houston.

With the score tied after regulation, two additional 15-minute periods were played with the score remaining the same after the additional 30 minutes of play. Both teams went to penalty kicks to determine the outcome of the game, with Mexico coming out on top, five penalty kick goals to four. The game was unique in many ways, including a record 70,788 fans; the largest Gold Cup game in Houston. In addition, a total of 11 yellow cards were issued; six to Costa Rica and five to Mexico.

Mexico got on the scoreboard in the 44th minute with a Raul Jimenez goal. Costa Rica followed up with the equalizer by Bryan Ruiz in the 52nd minute.

Club America, Santos Laguna battle to 1-1 draw in Houston

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 1, 2019) Club America and Santos Laguna battled to a 1-1 draw in a friendly match in Houston on Saturday, December 29, 2018. The match closed out 2018 for both teams in front of a sellout crowd at BBVA Compass Stadium. Both scores came in the second half and were within four minutes of each other.

The first goal came in the 54th minute when forward Fernando Gonzalez drilled the ball into the net for the score for Las Águilas. Santos evened the score in the 58th minute on a direct free kick by defender Matheus Doria.

In their last five match ups, dating back to November 19, 2017,  America has won two, Santos one, with two games ending in a draw.

The two matches ending in a draw were on May 13, 2018 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City with a 2-2 score, and on November 11, 2018 at Estadio Corona in Torreón, ending in a 1-1 score. The two wins for America were on November 19, 2017 in Torreón and on April 28, 2018 in Mexico City. Both wins were by the score of 1-0. The one win for Santos was on May 28, 2018 in Mexico City, with a 4-1 score.

Tigres upend Pumas in International Friendly

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 17, 2018) Under clear skies and a brisk 71 degress, hard-core and passionate soccer fans filled Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday afternoon  to witness two historic and storied Mexican programs battle each other in an international exhibition game.

The friendy match saw Tigres UANL score one goal in each of the two halves to down UNAM Pumas by the score of 2-0. The first half saw forward Eduardo Vargas (shown below, #9 in blue) take a pass from fellow forward Andre Gignac (shown above, #10 in blue) and slip it past goalkeeper Miguel Fraga in the 21st minute for the first goal of the game.

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

They added their second goal 46 minutes later, in the 67th minute, when Gignac got in on the receiving end of a pass for the Tigres' second goal. Midfielder Raul Torres send the ball to Gignac, who again drilled it past Fraga for the score.

Tigres took eight shots in the match, with two of them on goal, while Pumas had seven shots, with two also on goal. Nine yellow flags were issued; five to Pumas and four to Tigres; for various and assorted infractions.

As soon as the game was completed, the grounds crew quicky coverted the soccer pitch to a football field, for the second game of the double header at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Texas Southern Tigers had a 7:30 p.m. CST match up against SWAC rival Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The next international friendly soccer match at BBVA Compass Stadium is set for Saturday, December 29 where Club America will face Santos Laguna with a scheduled 4:30 p.m. start.

Uruguay dominates Mexico 4-1 in international friendly at NRG Stadium

Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 7, 2018) After completing in 103rd cap it the 2018 World Cup in Russia, striker Luis Suarez (No. 9, shown right) nailed two goals to lead No. 5 Uruguay to a 4-1 win over No. 16 Mexico in the final game of the 2018 Mexican National Team U.S. Tour on Friday evening, The 60,617 soccer fans at Houston's NRG Stadium witnessed a classic match of give-and-take between two national teams that have a long and stories history in international soccer.

Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

The first goal came 22 minutes into the match when defender Jose Maria Gimenez found himself in the right place at the right time, driving the ball pass Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa for the score. Forward Jonathan Urretaviscaya handled the assist. Mexico evened the score three minutes later on a penality kick by Raul Jimenez. Uruuay followed the Mexico goal with three unanswered socres of their own. Suarez nailed his first goal in the 32nd minute and added his penalty kick score nine minutes later. Forward Gaston Pererio secured the final score of the match, in thr 59th minute, with the assist coming from Suarez.

Lloyd scores 100th international goal to lead USA to 6-2 win over Mexico

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 8, 2018) In a game that saw Carli Lloyd score her 100th international goal along with Alex Morgan's two goals, the U.S. Women's National Team downed Mexico 6-2 in an international friendly match at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium. On Thursday, April 5, the USA also downed Mexico 4-1 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Americans did not waste any time scoring when Mallory Pugh got around the Mexican defense and scored her 11th international goal to put the USA up 1-0 in the third minute. Mexico responded 14 minutes later when Monica Ocampo drilled the ball, from the left side, past goalkeeper Jane Campbell to tie the score. The goal was the 14th international goal of her career, which leads the current Mexico team roster.

El Tri took the lead in the game when Kiana Palacios scored off a corner kick by Ocampo in the 17th minute. After that, the USA scored three unanswered goals to close out the first half of play with a 4-2 lead. The first of the three goals came from Lindsay Horan in the 25th minute. Nine minutes later Lloyd headed in the third American goal, and her 100th international goal, from the center of the goal area with an assist from Morgan. With two minutes remaining on the half, Morgan tallied her 84th international gaol to put Brian the USA up 4-2. Megan Rapinoe was credited with two assists in the first half; on the goals by Horan and Morgan. The United States padded their lead in the second half with goals by Rapinoe (64th minute) and Morgan (69th minute). It was the 36th international goal for Rapinoe and 85th for Morgan. 

Three Americans saw their first action for Team USA. Haley Hanson (Houston Dash), Hallie Mace (UCLA), and Tegan McGrady (Stanford) all received their first cap for the United States. Hanson came into the game in the 40th minute to replace Horan. Mace entered the game in the 50th minute for Tierna Davidson, while McGrady took over for Pugh in the 58th minute.

Mexico downs Ghana 1-0 in international friendly at NRG Stadium

Ghana DF Jonathan Mensah (4) and Mexico MF Erick Hernandez (8)
battle for the ball at NRG Stadium.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 28, 2017) Mexico capitalized on a mistake by Ghana and with a single penality kick, downed Ghana by the score of 1-0 in an international friendly match at Houston's NRG Stadium on Wednesday, June 29, 2017.

Ghana came out quickly; penetrating the Mexican defense in the first minute. Forward Majeed Waris got the ball inside the box and attempted to drive it past goalkeeper Moises Munez. Mexico picked up on the shot and deflected it away from the goal. Play continued for the next 20 minutes at a fever pitch until Munoz suffers an inadvertent blow; which sent him to the grass. After he was checked out by medical personal, the game resumed.

El Tri found the back of the net in the 32nd minute to get on the scoreboard. The Black Stars was penalized and Mexico midfielder Elias Hernandez drew blood on the penalty kick. When both teams headed to the locker room after 45 minutes, Mexico retained their 1-0 lead over Ghana.

Ghana got close to equalizing the score in the 56th minute when midfielder Frank Axheamppong made light work of three Mexican defenders, but Munez grabs and covers the cross to deny the goal

In two previous meeting, Mexico has come out on top; winning their last meeting by the score of 2-0 on March 26, 2008 at Craven Cottage in Fulham, London. On March 1, 2006, they met in their first-ever meeting, with Mexico coming out on top 1-0.

Tigers UANL shuts out Santos Laguna 3-0

Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 7, 2016) Tigres UANL came onto the pitch at the start of the game and scored two goals in the first 33 minutes of play to take a 3-0 win over Santos Laguna in Mexican League soccer action at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas on Friday, October 7, 2016.

In the 14th minute, Tigres got on the scoreboard with a nice shot by forward Damian Alvarez. Santos continued their attack, putting pressure on the Tigres' defense. Defenseman Alberto Acosta went down in the 20th minutes and after a short time; got up and walked down the field to shake off the mishap. He stayed in the game and did not appear to be hindered in his play.

Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

Tigres doubled their lead to two in the 33rd minute when midfielder Lucas Zelarayan found himself in the "right place at the right time" and booted the ball past Santos goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin. They added an insurance goal in the 66th minute when forward Luis Quinones came off the bench and received the ball at the right post. After some give-and-take with his defender, he chipped the ball into the goal with his right foot for the score. 

Next up at BBVA Stadium on this Houston soccer weekend will be a Saturday, October 8 matchup between the Houston Dynamo and the Colorado Rapids with a 7:230 p.m. CDT start. Sunday, October 9 will be the NWSL championship game with the Washington Spirit facing the Western New York Flash.