Sunday, June 25, 2006

Maxi stunner sees Argies break Mexico hearts

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Maxi Rodriguez fired Argentina into the quarterfinals with a stunning extra time winner against Mexico last night.
Mexico took a surprise lead after five minutes when Rafael Marquez got on the end of a Mario Mendez free-kick.
Argentina replied five minutes later when a corner was forced home by a combination of Hernan Crespo's foot and Jared Borgetti's head.
Rodriguez set up a quarter-final with Germany when he chested Juan Sorin's pass and stunningly volleyed home.

Afterwards, Argentina coach Jose Peckerman insisted they deserved victory.
"It's vital to take the chance when it arrives in as well-balanced a meeting as that," Pekerman said. "And we did - deservedly so. It was a match between two rivals who know each other so well."
Goalscorer Rodriguez said his fabulous goal had left him stunned - and added that he was confident Argentina could now overcome Germany in the quarter-final.
"That was incredible. A very beautiful goal. It was a really tough game, with Mexico making it very difficult for us but we came through in the end," he said.
"Now we are confident we can go further and beat anyone."
Mexico skipper Marquez lamented: "A great goal by Argentina is what eliminated us.
"The Mexico team has worked very well all this time and played a good match today against a team that everyone thought would run over us."
Marquez added: "We were perhaps the better team, maybe we didn't deserve this but football is like that."