Coach of Mexico Juan Carlos Osorio gets six-match ban

Mexico’s coach Juan Carlos Osorio has been suspended for six weeks by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee.

He was found guilty of breaching article 49.1A of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code during the third-place play-off match, between Mexico and Portugal, at the recent Confederations Cup.

The charge arose following his behaviour during the match, in Moscow, on July 2, and a statement from FIFA reads: “Mr Osorio used insulting words towards the match officials while displaying an aggressive attitude towards them.

“After taking into account all circumstances of the case, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided that Mr Osorio is regarded as having breached article 49.1A of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

“As a result, and given the gravity of the incident, Mr Osorio is to be suspended for six official matches and has also been sanctioned with a warning and a fine of CHF 5,000.”

FIFA’s decision comes into force immediately and the sanction will start when Mexico open their campaign in the CONCACAF Gold Cup against El Salvador on July 9.

In last Sunday’s game between Mexico and Portugal, the latter won 2-1 thanks to an extra-time penalty, having earlier trailed going into the final minute of normal time.

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FIFA Confederations Cup – Russia 2017: Goretzka scores twice as Germany beat Mexico to cruise into final

Germany 4 – 1 Mexico

Leon Goretzka scored twice in the opening eight minutes as Germany beat Mexico 4-1 in Sochi to join Chile in the Confederations Cup final.

The Schalke midfielder scored two goals in the space of three minutes sweeping home a Benjamin Henrichs pass from 20 yards and then slotted home from Timo Werner’s through ball.

Timo Werner finished off a nice team move to make it 3-0 after the break (59), and though Marco Fabian’s stunning 30-yard strike threatened to make things interesting late on, sub Amin Younes rounded off the win at the death for Germany.

While Germany go onto Sunday’s final in St Petersburg, Mexico face Portugal in a third-fourth play-off earlier that day.

FIFA Confederations Cup – Mexico’s win marred by injury time brawl

GROUP A

Mexico 2 – 1 New Zealand 

Mexico came from behind to beat New Zealand and moved top of the group amid ugly scenes at the Confederations Cup.

Leeds United’s Chris Wood gave the All Whites a first-half lead but second-half goals by Benfica’s Raul Jimenez and Oribe Peralta sealed victory.

Players from both sides became involved in an unseemly melee deep into injury time after Mexico skipper Diego Reyes dragged back Michael Boxall, who then lunged at substitute Hector Herrera.

New Zealand’s Ryan Thomas also became involved and a mass brawl ensued.

Referee Bakary Gassama consulted the video assistant referee before issuing three yellow cards to Reyes, Herrera and Boxall.

The Mexicans, who saw Ryan Thomas denied an 85th-minute equaliser by the woodwork, survived a major scare after Chris Wood had fired the Kiwis into a half-time lead and then squandered a series of further chances before Raul Jimenez and Peralta spared their blushes.

Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio apologised for losing his temper during the match.

The 56-year-old had a heated argument with one of New Zealand’s assistant coaches after Mexico’s Carlos Salcedo went down with a shoulder injury in the first half.
And the Colombian coach later had to be restrained by his own bench during the brawl in injury time.

“I would like to apologise to our fans, the way I spoke to one of their assistant coaches was not OK,” he said.

“There is no place for disrespect in football and I am sorry. The game was rough, almost violent on occasion, so I lost my temper.”
New Zealand’s head coach Anthony Hudson played down the incident.

“I thought it was bizarre really, it was like we had elbowed the player the way it was going on,” he said.
Mexico, who left striker Javier Hernandez on the bench, top the group ahead of Portugal on goals scored.
Mexico now only need a draw against Russia in Kazan on Saturday to be sure of reaching the semi-finals.
Hosts Russia are third in the group while New Zealand remain bottom and are out of the tournament.

FIFA Confederations Cup – Russia 2017 : Portugal denied victory by a late Hector Moreno goal

GROUP A 

Portugal 2 – 2 Mexico

Hector Moreno snatched a stoppage-time equaliser as Mexico denied Portugal a late victory in their opening Confederations Cup match.

Pepe had a goal disallowed for offside after a referral to the video assistant referees before Ricardo Quaresma sold the keeper a dummy and slotted in.

Javier Hernandez equalised with a low header from Carlos Vela’s cross.

Cedric Soares’ 86th-minute shot was deflected in, but Hector Moreno snatched a point in the 91st minute.

Mexico defender Moreno, who recently joined Italian side Roma from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, headed in off the post from a Jonathan dos Santos cross.

Earlier, Ronaldo had a header brilliantly tipped away by Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa, while Gelson Martins- a target for Liverpool – fired just wide on the counter for Portugal.

Former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez becomes Mexico’s all-time leading goalscorer

Former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez became Mexico’s leading scorer during a 2-1 defeat by Croatia.

Hernandez headed in his 47th goal with four minutes left in Saturday’s friendly in Los Angeles, a warm-up for the Confederations Cup in Russia.

It took the Bayer Leverkusen forward, 28, past Jared Borgetti’s record in his 91st international appearance.

“Javier is one of the best finishers in the world,” Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio said.

Hernandez, who was the fastest Mexico player to score 40 goals for his country, equalled Borgetti’s record in March.

He scored 59 goals in 156 appearances for United after arriving at Old Trafford in 2010, before joining German side Leverkusen in August 2015.