Mexico Vs. New Zealand Results: El Tri Wins Pass to World Cup with 4-2 Score Premier Football
go to original November 20, 2013

Mexico vs New Zealand 4-2 All Goals & Highlights 20/11/2013 (FootballHighlights2)

Mexico may have taken the long road, but the CONCACAF nation has officially qualified for the World Cup.

After a qualifying campaign that could only be described as disastrous, Mexico earned a spot in next summer’s World Cup after holding off New Zealand in a 4-2 decision Wednesday in Wellington, just five days after cruising to a 5-1 victory over the Oceania champion in the first leg of the playoff in Mexico City.

Oribe Paralta, the hero in the first leg with a brace, continued his hot streak with a first-half hat trick to help Mexico avoid what would have been by far the worst loss in history for El Tri, which sneaked into the playoffs at the final minute of the final CONCACAF matchday thanks to the rival United States.

Despite once being regarded as the region’s strongest side, Mexico ended the Hexagonal with a 2-5-3 record. With one game left to play in the Hex, El Tri lost to Costa Rica on the road but the U.S. scored late in its match against Panama to eliminate La Marea Roja and allow Mexico through.

If Mexico had failed to qualify, it was widely reported that the nation and federation would have lost around $1 billion in sponsorship deals. Going through four coaches in two months, the federation chose Club America manager Miguel Herrera to save the team, and he didn’t disappoint.

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