Mexico take on Ghana in an international friendly match at the Bank of America Stadium in the United States on Sunday.
While Mexico have the CONCACAF Nations League next month to prepare for, Ghana will compete at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
Match preview
Since winning the Gold Cup in July, Mexico have only played two friendly games, drawing 2-2 against Australia and 3-3 against Uzbekistan last month.
Those results represented major disappointments for Jaime Lozano’s side, who did at least show decent spirit by coming from behind in both matches, with Fulham striker Raul Jimenez showing that he still has what it takes by scoring three goals across both matches.
The Tricolor fell two goals down to Australia in Texas, but Jimenez dispatched his penalty before Cesar Huerta snatched a draw with seven minutes remaining, while the former Wolves forward levelled proceedings against Uzbekistan on both occasions. Uriel Antuna looked to have helped Mexico return to winning ways, but Otabek Shukurov had other ideas by scoring in injury time.
Ultimately, Mexico’s main mission for the calendar year was completed by beating Panama 1-0 in the Gold Cup final in July. Lozano’s side did not concede a single goal during the knockout stages of the competition, as they won five out of six matches along the way to lifting their record-extending 12th Gold Cup trophy.
However, Lozano will be keen for his players to return to winning ways when they face Ghana on Sunday – especially with a more difficult fixture to come against Germany three days later – ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League knockout stages getting underway in November.
Ghana, meanwhile, will travel to the North American continent off the back of recording successive victories last month, as they wrapped up their AFCON qualification campaign with a win against Central African Republic, before swatting Liberia aside in a friendly five days later.
The Black Stars sealed top spot ahead of Angola in Group E courtesy of Ernest Nuamah’s 88th-minute winner against CAR, after West Ham United forward Mohamed Kudus had brought them level at Baba Yara Sports Stadium, while those two both scored once again – as well as Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew – in a 3-1 win against Liberia.
Prior to those victories, Ghana had not won since their crucial 1-0 victory against Angola in March, after enduring frustrating draws against Mozambique and away to Angola in the reverse fixture.
However, former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton remains unbeaten across five matches since taking charge in March earlier this year, and he will hope to preserve that record ahead of two World Cup qualifiers next month before travelling to Ivory Coast for AFCON in the New Year.
Mexico friendly form:
D W D D D
Mexico form (all competitions):
L W W W D D
Ghana friendly form:
W
Ghana form (all competitions):
L W D D W W
Team News
Mexico have called up two uncapped players in the form of centre-back Ramon Juarez and veteran goalkeeper Julio Gonzalez, with both players hoping to appear for their country for the first time at some stage of Sunday’s proceedings.
Captain Guillermo Ochoa will expect to earn his 146th cap from between the posts, while Jimenez joined him in the 100-cap club earlier this year and will hope to continue his goalscoring streak for his country.
Ghana, meanwhile, could hand a senior debut to Medeama defender Abdul Fatawu Hamidu at some stage, but Hughton is likely to go as strong as he possibly can as he looks to maintain his unbeaten record as The Black Stars’ manager.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey could gain crucial match fitness after returning from injury to feature from the bench during his side’s 1-0 win against Manchester City last weekend, with Kudus is also primed to start after equalising for West Ham against Newcastle earlier on that day.
Mexico possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; K Alvarez, Sepulveda, Vasquez, Angulo; E Alvarez, Pineda; Alvarado, Rodriguez, Huerta; Jimenez
Ghana possible starting lineup:
Alt-Zigi; Seidu, Aidoo, Nicholas, Mensah; Samed, Partey; Bukari, Kudus, J Ayew; Williams
Kickoff
The game will KickOff Saturday, 8:30pm ET TIME in the USA [Sunday, 12:30am in Ghana]
Prediction:
We say: Mexico 2-2 Ghana
Neither team will want to suffer defeat in this match having built up solid unbeaten runs across recent months, and we can envisage an entertaining draw as a result.
The two sides are both more capable offensively than defensively in terms of individual talent, particularly in the case of Ghana, who have several exciting attackers at their disposal to hurt Mexico.
Source: Sportsmole
