SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- If somebody had told me previously that Mexico's match against Chile would end in a 0-0 tie, I would have been happy. When asked by a couple of friends about a prediction for the match, I predicted a 2-2 tie, which at the time seemed like an overly optimistic decision.
The thought of Oswaldo Alanis and Miguel Angel Herrera defending Alexis Sanchez gave me plenty of justifiable worries. Yet after the final whistle, I felt a bit let down. I felt like the tie wasn't enough.
I guess it was the missed opportunities in front of goal that have me feeling a bit hungry for more. El Tri's midfielders were excellent throughout and did a great job of creating movement forward for the team -- especially through Hector Herrera. He was audacious with his play-making and even added the occasional flashy move on the pitch.
Giovani dos Santos and Oribe Peralta also did a great job of connecting with the midfield and bringing the chances closer to Chile's net. There were so many beautiful setups, but the goal, the undisputed point of this oddly entrancing sport we call futbol, was missing.
A perfect example, and one that somehow symbolized the whole game, was Javier Orozco's missed chance. Everything was perfect except for his final touch. The momentum, the movement, the buildup -- all so great. Yet, that last touch was exactly what the team needed to work on.
The score was a bit kind to Mexico's defense as well. While they didn't perform terribly as a unit, it wasn't a convincing performance, either. Other than Francisco Rodriguez, I wasn't entirely convinced by any of the central defenders that Mexico utilized. Perhaps I just need to give them time to congeal a bit or find some cohesion.
Miguel "Piojo" Herrera appears to be content with the match. During the postgame news conference, the manager gave the match an "8 out of 10" when it came to Mexico's performance, which isn't too far off from what I believe to be a fair score.
There are a few positives that Herrera will take away from the match, but there is also plenty that he still needs to work on. The worries and questions about Mexico's future still remain. Mexico's next game against Bolivia will hopefully give me a few more answers. I hope the team begins to score as well.