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Mexico secured a 3-0 win against Iceland in Santa Clara, California, courtesy of two Miguel Layun goals in its first of two friendlies ahead of the summer's World Cup. The teams traded half-chances in the opening 20 minutes, with Birkir Bjarnason testing Jose Corona in the Mexico goal and Marco Fabian blazing a well-hit shot just wide of Iceland's goal minutes later. Corona was called into action again on 22 minutes, stuffing three chances from Iceland right on the doorstep from the visitors' well-worked set piece, before blocking another close-range effort from Johann Gudmundsson on Iceland's next surge into the Mexico area. And Mexico would find its opener somewhat against the run of play when Fabian curled a perfect free kick from 20 yards away past Runar Runarsson after Emil Hallfredsson was whistled for a dangerous play against Andres Guardado. The goal was Fabian's ninth in his career with the national team as Mexico took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room. Both sides rang the changes at the break to little effect as the opening 15 minutes of the second half was played at a tepid pace at best. One notable substitution came on the hour mark when Carlos Vela came on for Guardado, who handed the captain's armband to the newly signed LAFC attacker. Soon after, Mexico doubled its lead. Hirving Lozano picked up the ball at the top of the attacking third and led Miguel Layun into the Iceland area where he beat Runarsson with a low line drive that clattered in off the far post. Layun added his second just before the final whistle, curling a shot up and over Runarsson after the Iceland keeper had left his line and the goalmouth wide open. Next up for Mexico is another friendly against Croatia at At&T stadium in Dallas on Tuesday, March 27.
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ISL
