LiveBlog: Mexico-Angola

June 16th, 2006 | by: WC Bob | Comments(315)

Angola and Mexico went toe-to-toe and after 90 minutes of play neither side scored. It was a very good effort for the African debutants who keep their slim hopes alive for the second round. Read the play-by-play below and leave your thoughts about the match.

Final: Mexico 0-0 Angola

Full time That’s it. Angola comes away with a 0-0 win against Mexico. The game was not the best played of the tournament but playing a man down for the final 13 minutes Angola showed a lot of heart. Angola’s keeper Ricardo is today’s hero. He was outstanding for the Palancas Negras. Mexico is still in decent position to advance but will have some work left against Portugal.

90+ Angola pushes forward towards the corner. Time continues to tick in their favor. Angola crowd going nuts. I’m going nuts.

90:00 Can the minnows from Africa hold on for three minutes of added time or will Mexico make it happen? Don’t close your eyes.

89:00 Angola defense hurting themselves with turnovers. Mexico looking for the kill but are unable to get the job done. For a somewhat poorly played scoreless game this has turned out to be quite fun.

87:46 Marquez with a blast and Ricardo stretches out to save it. He is the hero of the match. Mexico with another great chance that goes just wide. Wow, this one is hurting my heart.

86:35 Angola running out of energy but trying to dig deep to hold on. Mexico preparing to make a few final pushes forward to steal a late game win.

85:19 Ricardo shown a yellow for wasting time. Angola counting down every last second trying to get a point.

84:45 Mexico corner kick after a nifty bit of footwork by Fonseca in the box. It is blown dead and Angola is spared for another few seconds.

84:02 This reminds me a lot of the Sweden and Trinidad game with a minnow trying to earn a 0-0 win.

82:43 Marcos Miloy on for Ze Kalanga. Angola making a defensive sub to try to hang on. My heart is racing.

82:15 Fonseca with the half volley but it is off the mark. He was in position but couldn’t get the job down. Mexico smells blood.

80:57 Angola holding onto the ball despite being a man down. Suddenly their offense has picked up but the question is whether they can withstand a final Mexico push.

80:00 Can Angola hold on a man down for the next ten minutes? Oh the drama of World Cup footie.

78:36 Ze Kalanga booked for a hand ball. His second yellow and he is sent off. That was a stupid play. Angola now down to 10 men.

78:15 Much discussion in the WCB headquarters about how pretty Rafa Marquez looks tonight. His ponytail is shiny and looking good. Morales in for Mexico.

76:45 Loco looks like he wasn’t built right. His arms and legs move out of place. He is having a decent game bad hair notwithstanding.

75:03 Mexico continues to attack as they have started to control the game the past 10 minutes.

73:57 Mexico corner caught by Ricardo. We will all name our kids after Ricardo if Angola wins this one.

73:05 Franco off and Fonseca in for Mexico as they try to beef up their frontline for the final 20.

72:03 Rui Marques in for Figueriedo. Another good sub from the Professor on the Angola bench.

71:00 Angola still managing to keep the clean sheet but needs more from its attack. Neutral fans starting to get behind Angola. Welcome to the bandwagon my friends. I’ve been driving it since December.

69:45 Mexico with a free kick after a silly fall from Figueriedo. The ball is spotting about 40 out. It chips away harmlessly. Angola still holds on.

68:17 Mexico with another great chance on a corner but no goal. Another corner for El Tri and it bounces away. Wow, this is getting to be dramatic.

67:28 Mantorras in for Mateus. Good sub for Angola as they look to get their first World Cup goal.

67:15 Maybe there is something to this Angola keeper not playing for a club team. He can expend all his energy for Angola.

65:57 Bravo with a point blank shot that Ricardo eats up. He should have scored on that one. Ricardo again proving to be a champion.

64:45 Are you people at work having fun? Tell me what you do for a living. It must be more entertaining then some of these matches. Ricardo with another neat grab.

62:57 Mexico shouldn’t be confused with Argentina in this match. They look pretty average.

61:46 If any of you own the same tie as the Mexico coach please do yourself a favor and burn it now. Still scoreless with both sides playing ping pong in the middle of the field.

60:34 Angola continuing to give Mexico a very good game. It could go either way at this point. Akwa needs more help at forward for Angola though. But I’m not a coach so what do I know?

59:56 Public service announcement: I’m never leaving my computer ever again and we’ll be liveblogging every game this tournament so please stop by again. Thank you.

58:45 Angola coach Goncalves looks like a thinner George Forman. I wonder if they have George Forman grills in Luanda.

57:35 Jamba down for Angola. He will live. Pretty amazing to watch this cat Ricardo in goal for Angola. he doesn’t even play for a club team but he should. He is having a great World Cup.

55:46 That was Franco with the chance for Mexico and Ricardo comes up huge in goal for Angola.

54:46 António Mendonca with a long shot on goal. On the other end Ricardo with a great save. Wow, excellent chances for both teams.

53:48 Whoever the fan is who brought the horn to the match and insists on blowing it non stop for 90 minutes need to be fed to the Polish hooligans.

52:43 Mexico coach looking more slovenly than ever on the bench. Still no sign of him smoking. Perhaps he took my advice and went on the nicotine patch.

51:04 Ricardo comes out to take in the cross. What would Jesus do? Will find out now that Jesus Arellano is in.

50:56 More rugged play from both sides. This one is a bit ugly but it is the World Cup and it is football so it is mandatory that we continue to watch.

49:34 Ze Kalanga gets a yellow for Marquez being a wimp.

49:04 Marquez slots it into the box and it is a Mexico corner. Headed away by the Palancas and Angola heads the other way where they will continue to do nothing.

47:04 Mexico missing Jared Borgetti in their attack. He wasn’t incredible versus Iran but he brings something that the rest of their forwards doesn’t have.

46:30 So if Angola ties would that be considered a win? I would think so, but we still have a lot of time left before we can really talk about that.

45:15 No changes for either side as we are stuck with same 22 that brought us that lackluster first half.

45:01 The second half is underway in Hanover. Angola is still looking for their first World Cup goal. Mexico looking to pick up an expected three points. I have decided to stick with Hefe for this half since it proved to be a decent luck charm for Angola in the first half. Thanks for stopping by and for making the World Cup so much fun for all of us. Let’s keep the vibes good and hopefully enjoy a more interesting display of football than we saw in the first half.

Halftime Mexico with the better chances but Angola played them fairly even for the first 45 minutes. I’m off to put some magic spray on my fingers. Go ahead and leave your thoughts on the first half and any predictions you might have for the next 45.

44:02 Franco with a point blank chance in the box and Ricardo makes a huge save to keep it scoreless.

43:19 André Macanga booked for dissent. Always respect the ref even when he is wrong.

43:15 For you halftime entertainment I will not be blogging but I will be sticking my fingers in ice. Thanks again for joining me. Your comments keep me going. Along with copious amounts of substances.

41:15 A noticeable absence of yellow cards in this game. This is a welcome change from the games earlier today. Unfortunately there is also a noticeable absence of goal scoring chances.

40:45 The name Gerardo Torrado rolls off your lips even if you are a German commentator.

39:45 Mexico can’t be too pleased with this half. Theu aren’t playing especially well and each passing minute gives Angola hope.

38:03 Sanchez has a failure to communicate and he gives the ball back to the Palancas. Loco getting more camera time. That is really unneccessary. Corner Angola and more of nothing.

36:45 The crowd sounds dead in Hanover. The teams have sucked the life out of this game faster than I am sucking down cold ones.

35:34 Franco falls down again. I hope both teams have fresh uniforms for the second half. They are accumulating grass stains.

34:02 Angola with the corner kick. Sanchez bats it away. This game has been fairly even to this point with Mexico having the better chances but the run of play about even.

32:56 Ricardo flies to knock the ball down and almost gives up a rebound to Mexico. Lucky to not give up a goal on that one. Still 0-0

31:02 Loco living up to his name with some funky moves. Angola gets a direct kick after António Mendonca hits the ground. 10 yards outside the area. Akwa gets a head on it but it goes too high.

30:00 Angola has now gone 120 minutes without a goal. I have now liveblogged a 120 straight minutes. Something has to give.

28:08 I think I got spoiled with all those goals earlier today. This one is losing my interest a bit and I am a die hard Angola fan.

27:03 Mexico keeper Oswaldo Sanchez hanging on the crossbar for no reason. I think he is bored. Good on him for playing after the death of his father last week.

25:35 Angola’s free kick is blasted over the goal by Mendoca and we remain scoreless. Mexico got off to a slow start against Iran but then turned it on. Will they do the same here?

24:45 Both teams playing a bit unsettled. Most of the play is in the middle of the field with the attacks breaking down. Loco down on the ground earning Angola a free kick.

23:15 Mateus gets a shot off for Angola but again there is nothing more that needs to be said. This Hefe does taste much better than the last beer.

22:32 Angola with the corner kick and it doesn’t happen. They control the ball and then lose it. Figueiredo gets off a shot and blasts it high. Good effort mate.

21:15 Figueiredo hurt and walks it off. I am sensing a pattern here. Both these teams need to suck it up and start playing a little football.

20:15 Angola brings it forward but you get the sense it is kind of pointless without more support up front for Akwa. Their coach is named the Professor so I can’t question his smarts. I have a few nicknames of my own but none are appropriate for a family friendly liveblog.

17:52 Franco is suddenly going to live again so Mr. and Mrs. Franco need not worry about their son’s health.

16:58 Angola still looking for their first ever World Cup goal. Franco on the ground for Mexico. The stretcher carriers are getting a workout in this match. Hope they have enough magic spray on hand for this one.

16:03 Mexico’s Mendez falls down and earns another direct kick from close in. Mexico getting plenty of opportunities to practice their set pieces. This one is knocked down by Ricardo and cleared away.

13:45 Angola dodging some bullets with Mexico looking very composed in the attack. Loco needs to spend more time worrying about his man than showing off his wonderful hair. Still no score.

13:08 Delgado shown a yellow by the ref from Singapore. Mexico with the direct kick that hits the post but does not go in.

12:18 Failed to mention I chose a Hefeweizen for this match. For those of you working, it is Friday so go ahead to crack one open at your desk.

11:17 Fairly evenly played game thus far with Mexico having the better chances. Mexico coach Lavolpe looks like a completely unkept beach bum on the sideline. I love that guy.

9:02 First shot of the Loco hair. I will never get tired of seeing the half shaved head with the flopping dreadlocks in the front. Franco down on the ground earning Mexico another free kick.

7:57 Ze Kalanga down again for Angola and decides to ride the stretcher this time. He looks worse than someone liveblogging back-to-back games.

7:46 I think I will permanately have the sound of horns in my brain after watching every game this World Cup. Beats having German music stuck in your head. I heard some German death metal today at a cafe and it was truly scary.

6:17 Angola looking more settled than they did last game. I can’t blame them for nerves. I was nervous for them too. Mexico playing some nice combination ball. Still no score.

4:21 Franco brought down by Figueriedo. Mexico spending most of the time on the ground. Free kick from far out goes harmlessly to Ricardo.

2:51 Ze Kalanga down on the pitch after getting elbowed in the midsection. The stretcher is declined as he walks that one off.

2:32 Franco brough down by Jamba whose name is also awesome. No yellow card shown yet which is a positive sign in this tournament.

0:48 I take that back. Carlos Salcido blasts a long shot that goes just over the bar. The fans are chanting “Mexico”.

0:25 Both keepers get a touch on the ball. Already a better start for Angola.

Kickoff: We are underway in Hanover as Angola takes on Mexico. El Tri is on top of the group with three points while Angola enters with no points. Thanks for stopping by and please leave your thoughts and comments as we move along through the 90. Keep it clean, have fun and love one another. Let’s hope this is a great game.

4 minute countdown: It is Angola’s turn to stand and sing. More pomp and circumstance. If I knew the words I would sing along. I’m fired up and ready to blog my fingers off. Thanks for joining us for this Group D match, the final game of the day.

6 minute countdown: The Mexico anthem is played. It is a long one. A bit dramatic but quality. The players have to hold their arms on their chests for a long time. That looks exhausting. Great moment for all of Mexico. I love the anthems.

8 minute countdown: Akwa having a nice converation with the kid whose hand he is holding. That was awfully cute.

9 minute countdown: The teams are getting set to lineup in the tunnel. Raf Marquez leads his men out of their locker room. Akwa does the same for Angola. Mexico wearing white tops and green shorts. Angola decked out in red shirts and black shorts. Love the yellow and red socks that Angola wears.

12 minute countdown: Anyone care to wager how many times we’ll see Mexico coach Lavolpe with a smoke on the sideline?

15 minute countdown: The best name on either roster belongs to Angola forward Love Cabungula. Every World Cup team needs a little love.

18 minute countdown: German television showing pictures of kids in Angola playing footie on the beach. I can only imagine the excitement they are feeling there as they watch their national team playing on the world’s largest stage. Win, lose or draw Angola’s presence in this tournament is a wonderful story.

20 minute countdown: The rain has cooled things down enough in Berlin for me to wear my Angola flag like a cape without sweating. For some reason I also have a Nigeria kit on. It is as close to Mexico colors as I could find in my closet. Here’s hoping that the Group D games are exciting this go around.

25 minute countdown: Just to prove that I am not a complete homer for Angola, I ate a burrito tonight. Not too bad considering it was from a shop in East Berlin. I hope your food is equally tasty wherever you may be in the world. Will provide a beer update closer to the game once I choose my brew of choice. It won’t be Bittburger. Not impressed. 30,000 Mexicans in Hanover. Very impressive showing considering the distance they must travel to come to Germany.

30 minute countdown: I wish Maradona was at every game instead of Beckenbauer. He is awesome to watch in the stands. One thing to watch in this upcoming game is the first 20 minutes. Angola was jumped on early against Portugal and will need to avoid falling behind against Mexico. The Palancas were one of the lowest scoring teams in African qualifying.

40 minute countdown: Hooray my food has arrived. I should have the energy now to LiveBlog back-to-back games. Worth noting that Mexico forward Jared Borgetti is not playing in this game and Angola coach Goncalves is sticking to his guns by playing a 4-5-1 despite calls for another forward to help out Akwa.

50 minute countdown: I look forward to having you join me for this one. We’ve seen nine goals thus far today and a couple of entertaining games. Let’s hope Mexico and Angola treat us to another good match.

Pregame: How much will my beloved Angola win by? 8-0? 27-0? Or will Mexico come out on top?