Layun Lifts Mexico Over Israel

I was questioning the decision of Mexican head coach Miguel Herrera when he decided to play Cuauhtémoc Blanco, the 41 year old legend in what was dubbed his farewell game. Are we not supposed to be preparing for the 2014 FIFA World Cup which is in 15 days? I thought so, but Herrera went with the idea of playing Blanco for the first 38 minutes of the game as Mexico took on Israel at the Stadio Azteca in Mexico City. I know the announcers were saying he was being creative, but after six or so back heels, I didn't really see any creative, but a 41 year old man who struggled to outbeat the Israeli defense. It wasn't until after Blanco was subbed out that Mexico started to find the net and it was Miguel Layún who would go on to score his first of two goals in the game. In the 44TH minute, Layun would get the ball near the edge of the box and he would score his first ever goal as a member of the national team as it rocketed past Harush for the opening goal.

The team would continue to find their rhythm in the second half as they kept creating chances and the team most importantly was being creative. In the 61ST minute of the game, Layun would get the ball and he rocketed the ball from what seemed like 30 yards out from goal and at first the goalie stopped it, but it would bounce right into the net for the second goal of the game. In the 86TH minute, Javier Hernandez would get the throw in near the net, he would attempt to cross the ball, but it would hit the leg of a defender. As the defender failed to clear the ball, it would find Marco Fabián who blasted the ball past the goalkeeper for the third and final goal of the game. You had to be impressed with how Mexico played in the game and especially that of Miguel Layun who is my player of the game. Mexico travels to Dallas on Saturday to play Ecuador and then it's Bosnia & Herzegovina and Portugal to round out their warm ups.