Disjointed and inconsistent heading into Saturday’s blockbuster clash at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Chile was the complete opposite as the defending champs dismantled Mexico, which saw its 22-match unbeaten streak come to an abrupt end in scenes similar to Brazil’s 7-1 demolition at the hands of Germany at the 2014 World Cup. Against lowly Panama in the final group game they showed what they are all about in an attacking sense, scoring four times, but still shipped two goals. Although high ticket prices have been blamed for the limited attendance at US games, the cost hadn’t kept Mexican fans away, with El Tri averaging more than 70,000 fans in its four games, setting a Levi’s Stadium record for soccer Saturday.
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“I’d like to offer you my most heartfelt apology to the Mexican people”, Osorio said in Spanish “It was shameful”.
Vargas scored a stunning four goals while Alexis Sanchez had a goal and two assists in a 7-0 beat-down that Mexico and its green, white and red-adorned fans won’t soon forget.
The aggressive start led to a goal in the 16th minute when Edson Puch slipped a ball inside the near post as El Tri’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa scrambled to get to his line.
Mexico and Chile introduced Levi’s Stadium to worldwide soccer with their exhibition two years ago in front of 67,175 fans.
“For me, the implications are of no interest, because here we are talking about a footballing nation that has a great chance to compete against the team ranked fifth the world, the reigning South American champions”.
Vargas scored in the 37th minute but his strike was correctly ruled out for offside, though the linesman could do nothing as the in-form forward doubled Chile’s lead on the stroke of halftime.
La Roja surely will be playing with some serious momentum after this one.
The two sides drew 3-3 in the group stages in last year’s Copa, Chile’s only dropped points on their road to victory on home soil. The latter is 10/3 to score his third goal o the competition so far, while Sanchez is the 21/10 joint-favourite to bag a goal with bet365.
This was Vargas’s second goal as the Mexico defense fell asleep.
No one had an explanation for what unfolded in a game witnessed by the largest crowd to see a sporting event at Levi’s Stadium outside Super Bowl 50.
What began as a fiesta of Mexican fans outside, with makeshift concerts and countless cheers, turned into a forgettable night in a hurry with this result.
Group C victor Mexico is ranked 16th in the world and had topped an unbeaten stretch of 21 matches by the 2004-05 team coached by Argentinian Ricardo La Volpe.
Mexico already clinched a berth in the final round of World Cup qualifying, so its next game that matters is the start of the CONCACAF’s hexagonal on November 11.
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The last match both teams faced each other was just before the beginning of this tournament in an global friendly.
