By now you already know the score, 7-0, in Saturday night’s second
game between Belize and Mexico. It eliminated Belize from contention for the
World Cup but it also punctured the hearts of a nation that had begun to rally
behind the team following their respectable 2-0 performance in Houston a week
earlier. But the Mexican team Belize met in Houston, wasn’t the Mexican
team they met in Monterrey and the same goes the other way, because the Belize
defense was barely a shadow of its former self. Here’s a quick recap of
the game.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
The scene in Mexico was festive for this home game. University Stadium in Monterrey
seemed to be at its capacity and the crowd was riotous and excited and we didn’t
see one Belizean flag.
But it was 11 men on the field defending Belize’s honour, and Captain
Shane Orio took a prayerful pose before the game. And from the first few minutes,
the difference was notable. In the first minute Belize was on the offensive
attack. But getting Belize to engage offensively may have been a strategy by
the Mexican to open up the field and open holes in what had been a stifling
defence in Houston.
Just 7 minutes in that would pay off with a goal by Fernando Arce. And that
strategy would persist with Belizeans trying to create on the offence and the 
Mexicans exploiting it for offensive opportunities. Shane Orio tried to coordinate
his defence but with the number of shots at goal, it was just a matter of time.
In the 34th minute, this shot from Andres Guardado made it 2-0 in favour of
Mexico. Orio tried again to re-focus his team but they looked dispirited, even
though Deon McCauley managed this shot on goal, the closest Belize would get 
in the series.
And in what would become a pattern Mexico attacked again on the right side,
this opportunity coming in stoppage time and Fernando Arce scored to make it
3 to nil at the half. And just two minutes into the second half the right side
was exposed again for another goal by Fernando Arce.
The game had officially become a route, four to nil. The Mexicans were doing
the wave, just in time for Jared Borgetti to come on the field. And facing a
casual defence, he put in this header in the 62nd minute.
Belize continued to be hopeful but hapless on the offence while Shane Orio
continued to battle despite a depleted midfield. In the 90th minute Belize would
have wished it to be over at 5 nil, but in the first minute of stoppage time,
Trevor Lennon scored off this auto goal and two minutes later in the final seconds,
Borgetti struck again - ending an embarrassing showing for Belize
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