Despite the largest crowd to see a soccer game in Atlanta’s history, Mexico and Nigeria played to a scoreless draw on Wednesday at the Georgia Dome in a game that featured lots of good scoring chances.
A record-breaking 68,212 tickets were sold, with most of the crowd supporting Mexico. Though just a friendly, both teams called in players from leagues around the world as they begin to consider their rosters for the World Cup this summer. As a result, players on both teams looked like they lacked chemistry, but competed as if roster spots were on the line.
Mexico, which had one day to together to prepare, outshot Nigeria 9-7, with six shots on goal compared to Nigeria’s five. Goalkeepers Guillermo Ochoa and Vincent Enyeama were called on several times to make acrobatic saves.
“We had a lot of chances at goal,” Mexico coach Miguel Herrera said. “We need a bit more definition.”
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said he saw some good things, but was unhappy that Mexico took his team’s strength, its passing, away. Mexico dominated possession, holding onto the ball for 62.5 percent of the match.
The game pitted Nigeria’s strength and speed against Mexico’s technical ability.
Nigeria had the best of the chances early, with Emmanuel Emenike brushing aside Mexican defenders before rifling a shot that Ochoa turned away.
Less than a minute later, John Obi Mikel unleashed a 35-yard rocket that once again forced Ochoa into action.
In the 14th minute, Ochoa came off his line to cut out a through ball to Ahmed Musa. Ochoa stayed down after the collision before eventually getting up for play to resume.
Victor Moses blasted a right-footed shot across the goal wide to the right from 20 yards out in the 18th minute.
“We both had chances in the first half,” Keshi said. “This is football. You win some. You lose some.”
Mexico began to settle down and get the better of the chances.
Mexico’s first opportunity came in the 23rd minute when Hector Herrera’s left-footed shot from 20 yards out sailed over the crossbar.
Rafa Marquez’s low header from a corner kick forced a split-second save from Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama in the 26th minute.
Mexico’s Oribe Peralta’s volley sailed just wide in the 30th minute. Peralta ran onto a long pass, outmuscled his defender and hammered the shot.
Mexico kept up the attack in the second half.
Peralta’s shot from 6 yards out was smartly saved by Enyeama in the 47th minute.
Nigeria missed a golden chance in the 56th minute when Ochoa denied Ahmed Musa in a one-on-one situation. Musa latched onto a ball that split the space between two defenders, but was coming in at such a tight angle he couldn’t put the ball into the far corner.
Mexico continued to create chances with corners. In their last good chance in the game, Raul Jimenez’s header sailed just past the right post in the 85th minute.
Mexico will play the United States in Phoenix on April 2 as it continues its World Cup preparations. Herrera said he will use a roster composed of players from the Mexican league for that game.
Mexico also has matches scheduled against Ecuador on May 31 in Arlington, Texas, Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 3 in Chicago, and Portugal on June 6 in Foxborough, Mass.
It will be Mexico’s last game before the World Cup.
Mexico, No. 21 in FIFA’s world rankings, is in a World Cup group that includes Brazil, Croatia and Cameroon. Mexico will open the tournament against Cameroon on June 13. Mexico has never advanced past the quarterfinals in the World Cup.
“I think if we play like this, we can move on,” Herrera said of the getting out of the Group stage.
Nigeria, No. 47 in FIFA’s rankings, is in a group that includes Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Iran. Nigeria will open against Iran on June 16.
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