SignOnSanDiego.com > Sports > Soccer -- Mexico vs. Venezuela
What: International friendly.
Where: Qualcomm Stadium
When: Tonight, 8 (11 EST)
TV: Live on Telemundo, Televisa and TV Azteca
Tickets: Only $30 seats in the View Level remain. The stadium box office opens at 10 a.m. A crowd of 60,000 is expected.
Futbol Fiesta: A 100,000 square foot interactive fan zone with musical stages, mini soccer games and a giant Mexico jersey is in the P3 section of the parking lot (on the I-15 side of the stadium). It runs from 4-8 p.m. and is free to the public.
Parking: Organizers are encouraging people to arrive early and ride the trolley if possible. In past soccer matches with crowds over 50,000, there have been massive traffic jams trying to get into the stadium.
History: Mexico has won all six previous meetings with Venezuela by a combined 13-3. The most recent meeting was a 1-0 Mexico victory last May at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, the team's send-off match before the 2006 World Cup.
Mexico outlook: Sanchez will try to blend youth with experience in his 4-4-2 alignment, which is a change from predecessor Ricardo La Volpe's five-man defense. El Tri figures to have the bulk of the possession but the key will be finishing better than it did in a 2-0 loss against the United States earlier this month. Look for speedy Andres Guardado to cause problems on the left flank, and Cuauhtemoc Blanco to free Fransicso “Kikin” Fonseca down the middle. Sanchez's most interesting decisions will come in the back, where he is missing all four starters from the U.S. match.
Expected Mexico lineup: GK Guillermo Ochoa; Defenders Ramon Morales, Johnny Magallon, Joaquin Beltran, Jose Antonio Castro; Midfielders Guardado, Gerardo Torrado, Gerardo Galindo, Fernando Arce; Forwards Blanco and Fonseca.
Venezuela outlook: The Venezuelans are trying not to embarrass themselves as hosts of the 2007 Copa America this summer, and as such have devoted more resources to the national team. But Paez is without many of his best players and might struggle against a motivated Mexico side desperate not to start the Hugo Sanchez era 0-2.
DID YOU KNOW? It is only the second match for Mexico since the 2006 World Cup.
Referee: Kevin Stott,
United States
– MARK ZEIGLER
Online: A summary of every game Mexico's national team has played in San Diego. Go to uniontrib.com/sports/soccer
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MEXICO ROSTER
Name---Position---Club
Sergio Bernal---GK---Pumas
Jose de Jesus Corona---GK---UAG
Guillermo Ochoa---GK---America
Joaquin Beltran---D---Necaxa
Israel Castro---D---Pumas
Jose Antonio Castro---D---America
Joel Huiqui---D---Cruz Azul
Fausto Pinto---D---Pachuca
Johnny Magallon---D---Chivas
Emilio Hassan Viades---D---Toluca
Fernando Arce---M---Morelia
Andres Guardado---M---Atlas
Gerardo Galindo---M---Necaxa
Israel Lopez---M---Cruz Azul
Juan Carlos Medina---M---Atlas
Carlos Morales---M---Toluca
Ramon Morales---M---Chivas
Manuel Perez---M---Atlas
Gerardo Torrado---M---Cruz Azul
Cuauhtemoc Blanco---F---America
Juan Carlos Cacho---F---Pachuca
Francisco Fonseca---F---Tigres
Francisco Palencia---F---Pumas
Coach: Hugo Sanchez
VENEZUELA ROSTER
Name---Position---Club
Manuel Sanhouse---GK---Maracaibo
Oswaldo Vizcarrondo---D---Caracas
Andres Rouga---D---Caracas
Leonel Vielma---D---Caracas
Jose Manuel Rey---D---Caracas
Luis Jose Vallenilla---D---Maracaibo
Grendy Porozo---D---Tachira
Miguel Mea Vitali---M---Maracaibo
Jorge Rojas---M---Caracas
Pedro Fernandez---M---Maracaibo
Franklin Lucena---M---Caracas
Javier Villafraz---M---Tachira
Giovanny Perez---M---Zamora
Evelio Hernandez---M---Zamora
Daniel Arismendi---F---Maracaibo
Nicolas Fedor---F---Real Murcia (Spain)
Ruberth Moran---F---Tachira
Coach: Richard Paez
Mexico 3 : 1 Venezuela - February 28th, 2007 - San Diego
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