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Mexico, Saudi Arabia meet in scoreless draw
Posted: Wednesday June 03, 1998 05:24 PM
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No goals to come: Mexican player Alfaro (right) dribbles around a Saudi player (AP) |
CRETEIL, France (AP) -- Fellow World Cup qualifiers Mexico and
Saudi Arabia played to an unattractive 0-0 draw Wednesday, with
North Americans having most of the possession and the Saudis the
better scoring chances.
Playing before a crowd of 5,000 in a small venue, the Saudis
opened the game with an opportunity in the first minute when Khalid
al-Muwalid shot wide from one yard. In the 22nd minute, Sami al-Jaber
couldn't head a ball from good position, with Mexican goalkeeper
Osvaldo Perez beaten.
Luis Garcia troubled the Saudis the most, but failed on three
chances. He shot high from 10 yards in the first half and wasting
two more opportunities in the second. On the first he shot wide
after receiving a pass from Luis Hernandez and was blocked by Saudi
Mohammed al-Dayea.
Mexico used an experimental lineup in which Garcia started up
front along side Ricardo Pelaez while regular strikers Hernandez
and Cuauhtemoc Blanco played wide midfield.
The experiment didn't seem particularly successful, but Mexican
coach Manuel Lapuente said he was "satisfied" with his team's
performance.
"We made several changes in our lineup and played well at the
end," he said. "During the World Cup you'll see a very different
team. Against South Korea [Mexico's first opponent] you'll see the
result of our job."
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