Mexico Heads to the Olympics on a High Note Soccer365.com
go to original April 4, 2012

Mexico Under-23 coach Luis Fernando Tena hopes his side can become the first ever CONCACAF team to win an Olympic medal in August, after winning all its games in the region´s pre-Olympic tournament.

“It’s a very, very beautiful feeling,” said Mexican Under-23 coach Luis Fernando Tena after the game. “A lot of Mexican folks who showed up for the game are very happy.”

The champions of last year’s Pan American Games may call on Manchester United striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez to lead the line, Tena confirmed.

Hernandez will turn 24 on June 1, but Tena said he is “a natural candidate” to play as one of three over-age players permitted in the Olympic squad.

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and defender Hector Moreno have also been mentioned, but Rafael Marquez has also told the press he´d love to be at London 2012.

Both finalists – Mexico and Honduras - had already sealed their place at London in the summer, but it was Mexico who claimed regional victory with a 2-1 win over Honduras in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying final on Monday night that showed el Tri is a new look machine from the one that entered the tournament under a cloud of doubt.

With goals from Chivas de Guadalajara’s Marco Fabian and Miguel Angel Ponce, Mexico’s Under-23 team came from behind to triumph in extra time in Kansas City.

Having already beaten Honduras 3-0 in the group stages, Mexico seemed uninterested during a goalless first half with little at stake.

Adopting a more physical defensive approach, the Central American side went ahead in the 48th minute when Romell Quinto rose high in the penalty area to nod home Alexander Lopez’s crisp free kick.

The goal awoke El Tri from its slumber and attacking midfielder Fabian leveled the tie on 75 minutes, firing a 25-yard piledriver into the top-right-hand corner of the goal.

Honduras ended the tie with just nine men, as Luis Garrido and then Wilmer Crisanto were both dismissed for picking up two yellow cards.

The game seemed destined for penalties, but with five minutes of extra time remaining, Ponce buried Israel Jimenez’s cross at the back post with a well taken volley.

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