Mexico 4 - New Zealand 2

Photo by Hannah Johnston

Mexico made the long trek southwest to Wellington for the second leg of their intercontinental playoff series.  New Zealand were hoping the home field advantage would allowed them to overcome a 5-1 deficit.  Mexico midfielder Carlos Peña had other plans.  He fired a warning shot from distance early that forced New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss into a tough save.  Then, Peña opened up the Kiwi defense with a pass up the middle to a streaking Oribe Peralta.  Peralta beat Tommy Smith to the spot and then chipped over an oncoming Moss for a 1-0 lead.  Peña slotted yet another through ball through the defense, but Raul Jimenez took a weak shot, allowing Moss to make the save behind his momentum.  Jeremy Brockie (pictured, white #16) had a chance to equalize, but Mexico goalkeeper Moises Muñoz angled him wide and then blocked his shot.  Peña again provided the impetus for a Mexican goal.  Peña pushed a through ball behind three New Zealand defenders. Miguel Layun (pictured, green #7) received the ball wide left and then rolled a fast pass across the box to Peralta for a tap-in goal and a 2-0 lead.  Soon thereafter, Peña got the assist himself after receiving a through ball from Jimenez.  Peña passed across the box to Peralta for another tap-in finish to complete a hat trick.  Peña, again, sliced a pass through the Kiwi defense.  On a one-two-one, Jimenez passed to Peña, who then backheeled a through ball to Jimenez.  Jimenez beat Moss but his chip at goal was saved off the line by Smith.  Soon thereafter, a through ball from Marco Rojas (pictured, white, left) had Brockie in on goal, but he was dripped by Muñoz in the box.  Muñoz made up for the foul by stuffing Brockie on the resulting penalty kick.  Mexico took their 3-0 lead into the break.

Peralta could have shot at an open net when Moss came out of the box to attempt a slide tackle, but Peralta took too long to shoot and Andrew Durante blocked his shot.  Mexico were rather subdued during the second half, and New Zealand began to gain periods of possession.  Kiwi appeals for a handball were turned away, but they did draw a second penalty of the match with ten minutes to go.  This time, they converted, and they pulled within two goals.  Nexico by this time had already gone asleep.  A run from Kosta Barbarouses put Mexico under pressure in their own box.  Brockie saved the ball off the end line to pass to Barbarouses.  Barbarouses first-timed a cross that was played across the momentum of Muñoz by Rory Fallon for the hosts' second goal of the match.  Just as New Zealand were feeling confident of tying the match, Mexico scored a fourth.  Peña provided the finishing touch as a slow roller through the New Zealand box somehow avoided many sets of legs.  Mexico win the match 4-2 and the aggregate series 9-3 in order to qualify for Brasil 2014.  New Zealand are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
 
Goals
Mexico
Oribe Peralta 14, 29, 33
Carlos Peña 86

New Zealand
Chris James 80 PK
Rory Fallon 82

Match Reports:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/new-zealand-2-mexico-4-match-report-first-half-hattrick-from-oribe-peralta-takes-mexico-through-to-world-cup-2014-8951150.html
http://www.mlssoccer.com/worldcup/2014/news/article/2013/11/20/new-zealand-2-mexico-4-world-cup-qualifying-match-recap
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/long-road-mexico-qualifies-for-6th-straight-world-cup-with-4-2-win-at-new-zealand/2013/11/20/451adbbe-51fc-11e3-9ee6-2580086d8254_story.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2226820/index.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQBswQeZxt8