LiveBlog: Mexico v Paraguay March 29

Hey, we’re having a grand old time blogging while the match is being played. Feel free to leave your thoughts, comments and rants….

Full time 2-1 Mexico wins. A fair result in my opinion. Neither side looked especially good but Mexico controlled the run of play in the second half. Hopefully the coaches learned something from this because other than a few beers I sure didn’t get much from the 90 minutes. Man of the match goes to Omar Bravo for his two goals.

89:37 Free kick for Paraguay from straight on 30 yards out. Frietes with the striker but Sanchez makes the save and is able to cover the rebound.

86:51 53% of the Telemundo audience thinks Claudio Suarez should be on the World Cup roster. The Emperor has had a nice career but I would have to vote with the other 47%

84:14 Martinez replaces Cuevas up front for Paraguay as the Red and White try to figure out how to get the equalizer.

83:12 That was really a very nice finish from Bravo. If the score stands he gets the vote for Man of the Match.

81:21 Gooooooooooool Mexico 2-1. Bullet shot from Bravo.

79:16 Mexico stringing together passes but Guardado hardly makes you think of Beckham when he crosses.

76:30 Torrado on. Here is his bio.

74:32 Frietes with a diving free kick which Sanchez smothers without giving up a rebound.

73:25 Cabanas should learn the offside rule. He was a least a km offside.

72:45 The referee might have a small penis and be an Ewok but he has done a much better job controlling things in the second half.

70:40 Garcia off and Medina on for Mexico

69:10 Credit to Paraguay for hanging in this one. I’m curious to see what their “A” team will look like this summer. Always a tough side but do they have enough to beat out Sweden and England?

65:23 So this Guardado guy on the wing for Mexico is 19 and an up and comer. I like his pace a lot. Looks like he needs to gain a little strength on the ball.

64:00 Hey Bense, what time is it in Dortmund. Shouldn’t you be in bed?

62:22 Game starting to open up a bit with more end to end action. What are you predictions? I say Mexico gets another goal to win 2-1.

59:53 Bravo unable to finish a sitter from close in with Gomez making the save. Nunez on for Paraguay.

59:03 Montiel popped in the mouth for Paraguay. Get that man some dental work ASAP!

57:30 Everytime they mentions Cuevas for Paraguay I think they are saying “huevos” and am wondering why they are talking about eggs. I really need to learn Spanish better.

56:02 Mexico has two players who I think are world class. Sanchez in goal and Rafael Marquez when he isn’t busy being a stud for Barca.

53:07 Cuevas goes one on one with Mexican keeper Sanchez and he is unable to keep the ball at his feet. A bit of luck for Sanchez but he is one heck of a keeper.

53:00 You guys ever wonder what you are doing with your life watching 22 men is shorts kicking a ball around? Games like this make me question my existence. I’m having a blast.

51:12 Cabanas with a direct strike on goal. Mexico keeper Sanchez stones him.

49:21 Credit to the Mexican community in Chicago. 55,000 have showed up for a game that is proving to be little more than a tryout for fringe players.

46:20 Bravo heads it over the crossbar for Mexico. It is too bad he can’t stay on his feet because otherwise he might be someone you could root for.

45:12 Paraguay comes out on the attack and Oswaldo needs to make a good save to keep this one tied at 1-1.

45:00 Claudio Suarez recognized for playing in his 1,000,00 game for Mexico. Rodriguez on as Mexico sub.

Still halftime Alright, I’m back blogging in the WCB basement. God bless Dos Equis beer and chips and salsa. If anyone out there can locate a feed of the Japan-Ecuador game I might stay up all night blogging.

Halftime Mexico 1 Paraguay 1. I’m grabbing another cerveza and will be back at the start of the second half.

44:40 I miss José Luis Chilavert. He was never boring.

43:05 Paraguay has come back a bit after the Mexico goal. A little bit of courage being shown by some players who aren’t exactly regulars on the international scene.

39:51 Not sure where the ref is from but I hope he doesn’t call my men’s league game this weekend. Props to Mexico for producing the beer I am drinking right now. Sure is making an otherwise ugly game look a little pretty.

38:45 Sanchez with the nice save for Mexico off a weirdly deflected kick. Good goalkeeping.

36:44 Card on Mexico. Would be nice to see some futbol instead of rugby. This ref should be nowhere near Germany this summer.

32:26 Paraguay’s players barking at the ref after he pulls yet another yellow card. This game has been out of the ref’s control since the start. Bravo has spent more time on the turf than on his feet.

29:36 Mexican player taken down in the box. Spot kick taken by Bravo. Blasts it down the middle. GOOOOOOOOOL 1-1

24:14 Mexico beginning to control the ball better. Lopez playing in the midfield helping to distribute the ball. Paraguay player down and looks like he has been shot. Crowd throwing shit at him. He might need to be airlifted off the pitch.

23:14 Hey LC or anyone else, who is number 9 for Mexico?

21:49 Mexican keeper Oswaldo Sanchez is a stud. When they show close ups of him it makes me feel ashamed of my skinny ass body. He hasn’t been tested yet and had no chance on the goal.

20:00 Not especially impressed by either team. Mexico looks unsettled in the midfielder and unable to sustain possession. Paraguay looking for counterattacks but not very sharp on the finishing crosses.

17:21 Still 1-o Paraguay. Mexico playing very physical. Blanco might have lost a step or three but for 38 he looks alright.

15:10 The pitch looks worse than Stamford Bridge. The play looks like a weekend kick around game. Not much class being displayed by either side.

14:00 Live steams found here: http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/march-29-friendly-mexico-v-paraguay.html

12:28 Mexico thinks this is the Olympics. Diving all over the place. The referee showing his card more than Paris Hilton showing her Mastercard in a shopping mall.

10:15 Blanco dives right outside the box. Dirty diver. Weak, weak, weak. Mexico free kick from straight on. No harm with bad kick straight into the wall.

9:34 We’ve determined Anibal Ruiz looks more like Helmut Kohl than Yoda.

7:15 Shot of Mexico coach Ricardo La Volpe. The guy looks like he has smoked 100 cigarettes in the last five minutes. Not a very happy looking man.

5:57 Mexican free kick just outside the 18. Love the Mexican acting on penalties. Free kick cleared without harm.

3:53Paraguay controlling the run of play. Mexican crowd already showering their team with whistles.

2:27 GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL. Paraguay. Cuevas tucks one in past the keeper. Bad defending.

1:00 Mexico is wearing the white Nike kit. Paraguay is in the red and white strip. Advantage: Paraguay.

Start We’re underway in Chicago. The referee is the smallest man alive. The game ball is the Nike grafetti ball.

Starting lineups Claudio Suarez getting the start! The cap record is his for the taking, assuming the Saudi keeper ever retires.

National anthems Paraguay’s is a slow paced waltz. Needs a little more omph. Paraguay players look like they are freezing their arses off. Finishes strong. Mexico’s is a true classic with good rythm and pace. I always have loved seeing the Mexican players cross their chests with their arms. Green Bay Packers jersey spotted in Chicago stadium during a football match????

Pregame
After watching the pregame for a half hour I feel confident to say that I am now fluento en espanol. Special shout out to Senorita Roberta Turner who taught me high school Spanish. Too bad I never paid attention in class.

Latin Billboard music show is April 27. Set your Tivos, it is going to be hot, hot, hot.

Anybody ever watch the soap opera La Tormenta? I’m going to marry the lead actress. Love at first sight!

Pregame interview with Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz. We’re going to have to run him through the separated-at-birth machine because I think Yoda might be his long lost twin.

Excellent pregrame show featuring Andres Cantor and bizarre Mexican commercials featuring talking stuffed dolls and other interesting things.

Telemundo says the game is on! A half hour of pregame and then we shall be underway.

Still hoping the game is on, although Soccernet is showing it has been postponed until Thursday. Anyone know anything about this?