Mexico had another bright performance as they tied against Belgium by a 1-1 score. Mexico had a great 1st half, probably the best since Coach Javier Aguirre took the helm of the National team, and were able to hold on in a 2nd half where Belgium improved to leave a convincing performance against another solid European squad. Mexico ends their March FIFA dates with two ties with solid performances. Mexico will not face any action until May 22nd, where they face off against Ghana.
The first half started
with Mexico coming out with mostly the same players. The only changes being Julian Quiñonez, Jorge Sanchez and Orbelin Pineda getting the start. A minute into the match, a great combination play ended with Quiñones trying to get a cross that turned into a shot that Belgium’s goalkeeper, Matz Seis, had trouble controlling and almost got it into his own net. After getting the ball in the area, Jesus Gallardo got off a low left footed shot that went wide. A great cross from Quiñones would be just out of reach of Raul Jimenez, who could have had a great chance had he gotten to it. Off a corner kick, the cross from Brian Gutierrez would get past Belgium’s defense and bounce off Quiñonez into the path of Jorge Sanchez, who would get off a left footed shot past Seis and into the net to score and give Mexico the early 1-o lead. From outside the area, Quiñones got off a right footed shot that went just wide. A cross into the area fell to Quiñones but his right footed shot was blocked by Koni De Winter. After a great combination play Quiñones got off a right footed shot right to Seis. A cross into the area was headed by Cesar Montes and bounced off Belgium’s defense before it was cleared as Mexico’s players asked for a handball that wasn’t given. Maxim De Cuyper got off a left footed shot from outside the area that went wide. The halftime whistle blew and Mexico took a deserved lead after being the clear better team in the first half.
The 2nd half started with the surprise that even with it being a friendly, neither team made a change during the break. The half would start with a counter in which Dodi Lukebakio would get off a wonderful left footed shot from outside the area that would go past Mexico’s goalkeeper, Raul Rangel and into the net to score and tie the match at 1-1. It was a great goal from Lukebakio, who had scored twice against the United States including scoring an even better goal. From outside the area, Axel Witsel got off a right footed shot that went wide. After Mexico failed to stop the match from an injury, there was a small scuffle between Erik Lira and Kevin De Bruyne but nothing came out of it. A great combination play ended with Quiñones getting off a right footed shot that went wide. Belgium subbed out Youri Tielemans, Mika Godts, Axel Witsel, Timothy Castagne and Lois Openda for Amadou Onana, Jeremy Doku, Nicolas Raskin, Thomas Meunier and Charles De Ketelaere. Mexico subbed out Raul Jimenez, Jorge Sanchez, Alvaro Fidalgo, Julian Quiñones and Orbelin Pineda for Armando Gonzalez, Israel Reyes, Obed Vargas, Alexis Vega and Roberto Alvarado. It was a good counter to Belgium numerous moves as they were slowly starting to get more possession. Belgium subbed out Maxim De Cuyper, Koni De Winter, Kevin De Bruyne and Nathan Ngoy for Alexis Saelemakers, Zeno Debast, Joaquin Seys and Arthur Theate. A cross into the area turned dangerous when Reyes tried to lower it for Rangel but the ball went close to going in and surprising the goalkeeper. Mexico subbed out Brian Gutierrez for Erick Sanchez. Doku got off a right footed shot from outside the area that was saved by Rangel. It was the final play of the match as the game ended with another solid tie for Mexico.
Mexico continued their undefeated record with another solid tie in the last March friendly. Once again Mexico got a great result against a superior side in Belgium, although a lesser side than Portugal, who they tied on Saturday. This time Mexico’s performance was even better especially in the 1st half, probably the best 45 minutes for Mexico since Aguirre arrived in 2024. The 2nd half had a number of substitutions that impacted the match and the early goal by Belgium also hurt Mexico but they were still able to match up well and the tie was more than deserved. Mexico will now have their final Training Camp until the World Cup and it will start on May 4th. This means this would be the final match before the final squad list gets released and Mexico knows which players will take part in the 2026 World Cup. Mexico will next play on May 22nd against Ghana in a friendly to be played in Puebla. Belgium will face of against Croatia in a friendly on June 2nd.
