Mexico 1-1 Peru: Guzmán and Vélez on target

Mexico and Peru shared the spoils in an international friendly at the Red Bull Arena in the United States, playing out a 1-1 draw in a match kicked off at 2am on Wednesday 30 September. Jairo Vélez gave Peru the lead midway through the first half before Víctor Guzmán levelled four minutes after the restart.

Both sides made heavy use of their benches in the second period, with three substitutions apiece inside a short spell after the interval, and Peru were forced into an injury change late on.

Vélez puts Peru ahead

Peru took the lead in the 26th minute. Jairo Vélez struck a right-footed shot from the left side of the box into the bottom right corner to put the visitors in front, and the goal stood as the only one of the first half.

Mexico had gone close before then. Isaías Violante saw a left-footed effort from outside the box saved in the centre of the goal by Pedro Gallese, set up by Jeremy Márquez, while Orbelín Pineda drove a right-footed shot high and wide to the right from a headed pass by Álvaro Fidalgo following a corner. Peru had their own threat from set pieces, with Wilder Cartagena missing to the right from outside the box following a corner.

Two yellow cards were shown in the opening 45, Marcos López booked for Peru and Renzo Garcés also cautioned for a bad foul.

Guzmán heads Mexico level

Mexico made three changes at the interval, bringing on Santiago Giménez for Germán Berterame, Luis Romo for Denzell García and Diego Campillo for the eventual goal scorer Víctor Guzmán.

The equalizer came in the 49th minute. Guzmán met a cross from Denzell García following a set piece situation and headed in from the centre of the box into the top right corner.

The booking count rose again shortly afterwards, Mateo Chávez shown a yellow card for a bad foul. He then went close himself, with a left-footed shot from outside the box saved in the bottom left corner by Gallese after being set up by Fidalgo.

A frantic run of substitutions

The second half was broken up by a heavy turnover of personnel. Mexico sent on Roberto Alvarado for Isaías Violante, Santiago Sandoval for Álvaro Fidalgo and Hugo Camberos for Orbelín Pineda.

Peru responded with Álex Valera for Adrián Ugarriza and Jhonny Vidales for Piero Magallanes, before Marco Huamán was withdrawn because of an injury and replaced by Oliver Sonne. The stoppage came after a delay in play, and the match resumed once it was dealt with. César Inga then replaced the goalscorer Jairo Vélez, with Jairo Concha coming on for Yoshimar Yotún.

Late chances fall to Valera

Peru pressed for a winner in the closing stages. Álex Valera had an effort from outside the box saved in the bottom right corner by Óscar García, again assisted by Vidales, before missing to the right from the center of the box following a corner from Erick Noriega.

His final attempt, a left-footed strike from more than 35 yards set up by a headed pass from Vidales, was close but drifted to the right. Three minutes of added time were announced, Jairo Concha was caught offside, and the match ended at 1-1.

Mexico had their own late contribution from Obed Vargas, whose right-footed shot from outside the box was too high, and from Everardo López, whose effort from range was blocked.

SportsLigue