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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Members of the Mexican National Team pose for a picture prior to their match against Ireland at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Mexico striker Raúl Jiménez (l.) controls the ball in front of Ireland defender Shane Duffy during the first half of an international soccer friendly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio (l.) looks on during the first half of an international soccer friendly between Mexico and Ireland at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Ireland defender John Egan (l.) completes a tackle of Mexico striker Raúl Jiménez during the first half of an international soccer friendly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Mexico defender Carlos Salcedo heads the ball away during the first half of an international soccer friendly between Mexico and Ireland at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Mexico forward Carlos Vela (r.) tries to maintain possession of the ball while being marked by Ireland midfielder James McClean during the first half of an international soccer friendly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Mexico forward Carlos Vela (11, green top) gets by the defense of Ireland midfielder James McClean during the first half of an international soccer friendly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Ireland captain and midfielder James McClean pursues the ball during the first half of an international soccer friendly against Mexico at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Mexico midfielder Héctor Herrera attempts a back pass during the first half of an international soccer friendly against Ireland at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Ireland right back Cyrus Christie (white top) tries to split the Mexican defense during the first half of an international soccer friendly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Ireland midfielder Daryl Horgan (7, white top) fights for possession of the ball with Mexico midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos (6) during the first half of an international soccer friendly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Ireland defender John Egan (19) attempts a throw-in towards teammate David McGoldrick during the first half of an international soccer friendly against Mexico at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Mexico midfielder Jorge Hernández heads the ball in his own half during the first half of an international soccer friendly against Ireland at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Ireland forward Daryl Horgan (r.) and Mexico defender Diego Reyes battle in the air to win a header during the first half of an international soccer friendly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Ireland captain and midfielder James McClean pursues the ball during the first half of an international soccer friendly against Mexico at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Mexico forward Carlos Vela (11) possesses the ball in his own half of the field while being marked by Ireland forward Daryl Murphy during the first half of an international soccer friendly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Mexico midfielder Héctor Herrera (16) attempts to control the ball in front of Ireland midfielder Callum O'Dowda during the first half of an international soccer friendly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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International Friendly: Mexico vs. Ireland (06.01.17)
Mexico defender and captain Héctor Moreno (15) looks on as the ball was crossed into the penalty area by Ireland forward David McGoldrick (10) during the first half of an international soccer friendly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 1, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Though it stated that last night’s matchup between Mexico and Ireland was a friendly, it may have a massive impact as both teams get ready for critical contests in the next two weeks.
The Mexican National Team continued its latest tour of the United States as it took on The Boys in Green in the shadow of New York City, with “El Tri” putting on a better performance than it did in its loss in a friendly against Croatia in Los Angeles last Saturday by defeating the Irish 3-1. Jesús Corona and Raúl Jimenez scored in the first half to give the Mexicans a 2-0 lead at the break before Carlos Vela scored on a tap-in early in the second half to open up a 3-0 lead. In one week’s time, Mexico will be back at home and playing two crucial games in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying: against Honduras on June 8 and then against the United States at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 11. Mexico is atop “The Hex” with 10 points after four games played, with the top three teams after this final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying automatically gaining entry to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez did not make an appearance in last night’s contest, though his next cap will be his first game since becoming Mexico’s all-time leading goalscorer, scoring his 47th career goal for his country in the loss to Croatia.
As for the Irish, they will head across the Atlantic and back to the Emerald Isle to prepare for their UEFA World Cup Qualifying match against Austria on June 11. In its World Cup qualifying campaign, Ireland sits in second place in Group D, tied with Serbia atop the Group with 11 points. (Serbia currently holds the tiebreaker.) The nine group winners in Europe qualify for the FIFA World Cup, with the top eight second-place teams moving on to a two-legged playoff to try and qualify at the expense of another of those second-place squads.
As always, our photographer, Robert Cole, is on the pitch snapping quality pictures, this time from the home of the New York Giants. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures.