Mexico beats Brazil to win 1st Olympic soccer gold
Mexico is celebrating its first Olympic gold medal in men’s
soccer, and Brazil is wondering if it will ever be able to add the
title to its long list of triumphs.
Oribe Peralta scored only 29 seconds into the Olympic final at
Wembley Stadium and added another goal in the second half to help
Mexico upset Brazil 2-1 Saturday.
Peralta took advantage of a mistake by the Brazilian defense in
one of the game’s first plays and sent a low right-footed shot
inside the near post. It was fastest Olympic goal since FIFA began
keeping records of the competition in 1976.
The striker added the second with a firm header off a free kick
in the 75th. Hulk scored for Brazil in injury time, but Oscar
missed a header in the final seconds to waste the last chance for a
comeback in front of 86,162 fans.
”Mexico will be celebrating on the streets,” coach Luis
Fernando Tena said. ”It is a great honor for a coach to see his
players singing the national anthem with gold medals around their
necks. It’s a very important moment for Mexican football. It’s a
great moment for us.”
Brazil was also trying to win its first Olympic gold, which is
the only significant trophy the five-time World Cup champions
haven’t won in soccer. The Brazilians established the London Games
as the team’s priority this year and arrived as the big favorite
after bringing most of its top players for the competition. Many
will also be on the team that will try to give Brazil the title at
the 2014 World Cup at home.
”We are all sad. We know it was probably our only chance to win
a gold medal,” said Neymar, touted as the future of Brazilian
soccer. ”Four years from now most of us likely won’t be here again
so this was our last Olympics. It was our last chance to win the
gold.”
As Mexican players jumped up and down at midfield in
celebration, the Brazilians dropped to the ground in despair.
Neymar was one of them, sitting stoned-faced. Real Madrid left back
Marcelo dropped his head and cried as his teammates came to console
him.
”Yet again we came close but didn’t quite get it,” Brazil
coach Mano Menezes said. ”Defeat is part of the maturing process.
This group will continue on this path and get ready for 2014.”
Peralta gave Mexico the early lead after Manchester United right
back Rafael tried to make a backward pass. Mexico midfielder Javier
Aquino intercepted the ball, sending it forward to Peralta just
outside the area. With no defenders near him, he calmly sent his
shot into the left corner.
FIFA said Peralta’s goal was the fastest since the 1976 Montreal
Olympics, when football’s governing body began keeping records of
the competition. The fastest goal in a senior competition was
scored by Turkey’s Hakan Sukur 11 seconds into a match at the 2002
World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
FIFA said the fastest goal in all competitions came from
Brazil’s Fabinho, who scored in nine seconds in the 2007 Under-17
World Cup in South Korea.
Peralta’s second goal came off a firm header from near the
penalty spot after a free kick cross by Marco Fabian.
”I don’t know if this was the best match of my career, but what
I do know is that this is the most important because I am here
today with a gold medal,” Peralta said. ”I dreamed about this
moment. It is one of those things you don’t get to live every
day.”
The Mexicans also had a goal by Peralta disallowed for offside
in the 69th, and Fabian missed the open net with his header off a
corner in the 72nd.
Brazil appeared to be shaken by the early goal and struggled to
create scoring opportunities. Neymar started playing better in the
second half and helped Brazil push forward, but struggled to get
his efforts on target.
Hulk scored the team’s only goal with a low shot from inside the
area in the first minute of injury time.
Brazil knew that anything but the gold was going to be
considered a huge failure. The expectations back home were high and
the Olympics were seen as an important test because the majority of
the players in London will also likely be in the team trying to
lead Brazil to the 2014 World Cup title at home.
It was the team’s first Olympic final in men’s football since
the 1988 Seoul Games, when youngsters Romario and Bebeto ended with
the silver. Brazil also lost the final four years earlier at the
Los Angeles Games.
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