Football Update: Spain Draws Friendly with Mexico
It was perhaps the perfect result for both teams, as the friendly staged to commemorate 200 years of Mexican independence form Spain, against the reigning World and European champions ends in a stalemate that kept intact the pride of both teams.
However, it was the hosts who had a better game, as they went for maximum possession of the ball once they had gone ahead in the 12th minute of the match.
Substitute David Silva saved his team from an embarrassing defeat in their first international since winning the two trophies, when he scored the equalizing goal in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw for world champions in front of a packed Azteca on Wednesday.
The hosts surged ahead from the start of the match and were rewarded when their golden boy striker Javier Hernandez scored in the 12th minute.
His goal saw the stadium erupt in joy, as the hosts looked in great nick making life difficult for the usually free flowing Spanish playmakers and strikers.
Hernandez scored after chasing a ball into space, with the Spanish goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas to beat, as Casillas aimed to stop a ball aimed at his body, Hernandez coolly slotted the ball inside the near post.
The Spaniards went in the top gear in the search of the equalizer and were almost rewarded when Santiago Cazorla attempt hit the Mexican bar, in the 29th minute of the opening half.
The Spanish coach then rang in the changes during the break, sending his trump cards Silva and Xavi on as second half substitutes.
His move was rewarded eventually, as Silva restored the parity in the score line with barely a few seconds left in the match.
The goal came when Silva ran on to a fine through ball from Xavi, before placing the ball with the Mexican keeper Jesus Corona beaten.
He scored in the first minute of injury time and then had Mexican hearts fluttering with another attempt that went agonizingly close to the Mexican goal in the dying seconds of the match.
After the match a relieved Vicente del Bosque, said that his players were extraordinary talents yet he also had a word of encouragement for the hosts.
"I think it's been an exciting game both before the match and during. I think Spain has behaved extraordinarily well in general. Both teams wanted the victory. I think we had more control say than Mexico but we lacked a little bit of depth we found right at the end. However Mexico had very fast forwards and in any counter attack it could be very dangerous. Both have different styles of play of course."
Spain arrived to in the city and trained one day before at the Aztec stadium ahead of the game.
Mexico's interim coach Enrique Meza said the team needed to be more positive but added youngsters playing in Europe would help Mexico change.
"I have the impression we need to be more positive and as I'm the type of guy who always thinks positively I liked the fact there are a group of talented youngsters playing in Europe and they will surely change the direction of all of this."
Spain became the latest world champions not to win their first match after lifting the FIFA trophy.
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