The World Cup Diaries: The Mexican Curse
Mexico 1 : 2 Netherlands
Last night Netherlands made one thing one thong clear - they are willing to do almost anything to go forward. They will dive, they will hit, they will cheat, they will do the absolute maximum of everything in order to win. And Mexico knows this better than anyone else.
For good 75 minutes Mexico thought that this time they made it to the Quarterfinals, for the first time in 6 World Cups. They had the victory in their hands, until the referee decided to take it away from them. The Mexican team played with their hearts and souls, they had the best goalkeeper in the championship by now, they were almost tasting their glorious win. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.
Giovani dos Santos opened the scoring with a goal in the 48 minute and that gave the Mexicans the inspiration they needed. They pressed the Dutch team back into their side of the field and made everything they could to score a second goal. The picture did not loook good for van Persie and company, especially with Guillermo Ochoa as a goalie. Did I mention how exceptional Ochoa was?
And then Netherlands decided that that was it, they were going to whatever it take to win. Diving, not diving, anything. In the 88 minute, Sneijeder scored. It was obvious that this game is going to be decided in the extra time, and if it came to shooting penalties - Mexicon was going to win. Why? Well, because they have Ochoa. But it didn't took so long.
After van Persie's infamous dive, the referee decided it's time for him to step in and to let the Dutch win. In the 4th minute of the extra time Ochoa did not save the penalty. Mexico had the victory in their hands but it slipped away.
It seems that Netherlands are on a hunt for Spanish speaking teams. Next up against them will be the team of Costa Rica. There is a very slight chance that the Caribian team will manage to defeat the Fling Dutch and company. Or who knows, maybe they will knock them out and put them to shame. We can only hope!
You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...
