Mexico and Venezuela met last night for their last group stage match in the Copa América Centenario. Both teams had already qualified for the knockout rounds but there was still the niggling detail of winning the group (and the accompanying seeding in the next round) to settle.
With Venezuela up 1-0 late in the game, Mexico were starting to get a little ancy. Yet as the clocked ticked down to the last 10 or so minutes, there was a sense that somehow El Tri were going to find a way to dig themselves out of the hole.
Their salvation came when Jesús “Tecatito” Corona collected the ball more than thirty yards from goal. As he made his weaving charge toward goal, you could hear the play-by-play announcer for Univision counting the defenders he fools along the way. Finally, after dispensing with nearly the entire Venezuela squad, Corona uncorks a thundering shot from right on top of the penalty spot.
It was nice. Really nice.
Mexico will face the runner-up from Group D (likely either Chile or Panama) in the next round.