Not to suffer any goals. That's all Mexico needed to garantee the first place in Group B in the game against Chile.

Coach Hugo Sanchez decided to spare some of the main players. Castillo, Rafa Marquez and Cacho gave place to Bravo, Pineda and the one the fans wanted to see back on the team,  Andres Guardado.

For Chile, the task was more serious. The team needed at least a  tie to advance to the quarter-finals.

The first minutes of game showed the immense possibility for a 0 x 0.

Despite some good plays and chances, both teams were confortable without forcing or exposing each others defense to anything too drastic.

 Very, very, very boring game

Final Score: Mexico  0  x  0   Chile

Both teams move to the quarter finals and my predictions for this group are half way to be precise: Mexico 1st. place and Chile 3rd. place of the group.

*********************************************************************

The second half of my prediction would happened if Brazil wearing the blue jersey, repeated the good soccer shown in their last game.

To play Ecuador, coach Dunga kept the team that finished the game against Chile. Daniel Alves (for Maicon), Josué (for Elano) and Julio Baptista (for Anderson) ... In my opinion a formation that could give Robinho more freedom to do what he knows best: terrorize defenses.

For Ecuador what's left is the necessity to play a good game a prove why this country has been to last world cups. Chances to move to the quarter finals??? Oh, yeah... I'd say 10%. They would have to score something like 2 or 3 goals against Brazil. And during the first half Ecuador DID have good chances to score.

One of these chances came in a clumsy move from Doni trying to cover the defense. Ai ai ai Doni!!!

Robinho & cia. didn't show the same quality from the last game but in the end of the first half a good opportunity with Vagner Love taking a powerful shot from outside the box. The play culminated with a good save by Elizaga.

End of first half: Brazil  0  x  0  Ecuador

 And I was praying for at least 45 minutes of good soccer today...

The second half starts with Brazil palying a little better and at the 9th minute Robinho swings from one side to the other using the "step-over"  - his most famous move - and Espipoza uses the arm to dislocate the brazilian forward. Penalty for Brazil and Robinho scores  his 4th goal in the Copa America.

At the 33rd minute Ecuador had 2 questionable situations, both involving Brazil's defender Alex. In the first one he pushed the forward from Ecuador in the box and in my opinion the referee should have called the penalty. The second one Tenorio took a dive in the box a this time it was nothing. But had the referee called the penalty the game could've improved in the last minutes.

Nothing interesting happened in the game. A weak 1 x 0 for Brazil that was pretty boring in fact.

Brazil moves to the quarter-finals and will face Chile again.

Final Score: Brazil  1  x   0 Ecuador.

Group B:  1st Mexico, 2nd. Brazil, 3rd. Chile

IN TIME: The best part of the games today were probably the presence of the beautiful supporters on the stands

See you all tomorrow

Mexico is the first team to garantee their spot in the next round of the 2007 Copa America. Their win tonight against Ecuador was a vindication of the good work of Mr. Hugo Sanchez and his team. But there's a question buggin me and I hope some of you can help me: WHY DIDN'T NERY CASTILLO PLAY IN THE GOLD CUP FINALS???  Well, thatis past now... And in the present we can only say that as I predicted, Mexico is a really strong candidate to win this competition.

As for Ecuador, now there's a very remote chance to qualify but they would have to beat Brazil with a good goal difference and pray for a Mexico to beat Chile by a large score too... A task that is not impossible but improbable if Brazil play the way they played earlier... but in soccer (almost) everything is possible.

THE GAME:

In the first half Ecuador had a good ball possesion, Mexico waited with caution and explored the counter-attacks trying to get the ball to Nery Castillo.

And "el matador"Castillo didn't let his team mates down. At the 21st minute Hurtado failed and the ball was passed to Nery Castillo inside the box and he dribled Mora and send the ball to the net.

Mexico 1 X 0 Ecuador (Nery Castillo)

 After the goal Mexico went back to the good defensive strategy, the same they used against Brazil. Ecuador had more ball possesion but was useless.

The mexicam team had two more chances in the end of the first half to score the second goal but that would only really come in the second half.

4 minutes in the second half and Oswaldo Sanchez proved that Mexico (not like Brazil) has the privilege of having two EXCELLENT goalkeepers. In a great shot by Tenorio from outside the box, Sanchez jumped and streched his whole body to the right side to tap the ball out of bounds... An amazing save!!!

But Mexico didn't completely abandon the attack. Using again the speed and talent of Castillo the team created good opportunities and even though Ecuador was trying to put some pressure on Mexico's defense it was the Azteca Team who socred their second goal. 

On his first touch on the ball, Cuauhtemoc Blanco (that came in for Castillo) crossed a perfect ball and what Ecuador failed to do in more than 3 opportunities, Omar Bravo got it right the first time. A perfect header. And Mexico doubled their lead.

Mexico  2 x 0 Ecuador  (Omar Bravo)

Ecuador got their goal at the 39th minute with a powerful shot from outside the box by Mendez that hit a mexican defender before going inside Sanchez's goal.

But that was it... Mexico played their game very well and once again was very disciplined tactically...

Final Score: Mexico 2  x 1  Ecuador

Castillo (21) the man of the match 

***************************************************************

My impression is that Mexico really plays better against South American teams. The style of soccer played by teams like Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, etc... allow the mexicans to explore their counter attacks using the wings, the tallent of players like Nery Castillo crashing the defenses, and Bravos speed and energy to run for all game long. But when they face an european style of game such as the one practiced by the USA they find it hard to break through. It's a heavier game, with more running and less space for the talent.

I honestly believe Mexico should start figuring out a way to perform their game no matter if it's against Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina or Portugal, England or the USA.... But that is no task for a journalist to figure out... I'll leave that for the competent Mr. Hugo Sanchez...

See ya tomorrow...

United States

v

Paraguay

Argentina

v

Colombia

Predictions: Argentina wins 3 X 1 and the USA will tie the game with Colombia 1 x 1