Mexico were palpably the better side for the vast majority of the 90 minutes but when the game didn't spark into life Portugal - with Ronaldo and Quaresma in fine fettle - looked the deadlier.
All in all that was a just result in what was truth be told a rather entertaining affair that had it all!
Viva Confederations Cup, as it were!
Thank you for reading, Anirudh Menon signing out...
OH WOW! FOR THE SECOND TIME MEXICO DRAW LEVEL. Giovanni dos Santos send in a lovely ball that Moreno rose above Fonte and absolutely thumped into the bottom corner. WOOOF!!! WHAT A HEADER!
89' OH MARTINS!! THAT WAS SO CLOSE! Andre Silva and Ronaldo counter at pace before the former plays in Martins. He holds of Araujo and turns & shoots in one smooth motion but the ball trundles agonisingly wide.
88' OH WHAT A MOVE! Jonathan dos Santos played in Giovanni whho touched the ball towards Chicharito but the little Pea simply can't get it under control!
THAT WAS COMING! Gelson Martins whipped past Layun and smashed a ball in that Hector Herrera could only steer in the direction of Cedric. The fullback smashed it at goal... and it deflected off Herrera's boot and into the goal
85' AAAAOOOOOOO!!!! ANDRE SILVA!!! Andre Gomes floats in a lovely little ball that is too high for Ronaldo but Silva behind him can connect with his leap - it takes Ochoa to go full stretch to keep the score level!
84' Carvalho clever slides Cedric free on the right but Herrera and Layun doe supremely well to first tackle him and then ensure it doesn't go out for a corne.
83' Peralta bundles Pepe to the ground in his pursuit of a dos Santos long ball - but he can't get around the prone defender to get it. This half looks like it's finishing well too
81' MEXICO COUNTER at extreme pace before Giovanni dos Santos screws his side well wide! Portugal counter right back but Quaresma's cross reeks of tiredness and sails harmlessly wide
80' Ronaldo twists and turns away from Herrera but the Mexican is obdurate and comes back for more - he and Araujo manage to shoulder-charge the great man off the ball. Portugal retain possession though and lays it off to Quaresma whose half-volley is straight at Ochoa
79' Mexico fling their dice for the last time as they bring on Oribe Peralta for the unusually quiet Raul Jimenez. Peralta's first contribution to the game is to foul Jose Fonte
78' Martins plays in Ronaldo but the pace on the ball forces the great man wide... he does well to keep the ball and ensure Portugal can continue to ping it around... all that ends when Martins cant's control a smart little through ball from William Carvalho
76' Andre Gomes dumps Andres Guadrado on the ground with a lovely run down the right flank before he lays it off to Quaresma. The veteran lines up a shot - with Ronaldo screaming for the pass - and so naturally he smacks his shot into the nearest defender. If looks could kill, Ronaldo would be in trouble for a lot more than tax-dodging.
73' Ricardo Quaresma stands over the free kick... but his delivery is atrocious. The dancing feet of Gelson Martins keeps the ball in play, but is not enough to get past Araujo
71' Hernandez almost combines brilliantly with Giovanni's brother Jonathan, but the younger dos Santos is stopped in his tracks by the dour figure of Pepe. It really is all Mexico as the CONCACAF Champions dictate play
70' Chicharito picks up a layoff and threads a ball into Giovanni dos Santos... but he won the layoff by going in with a high boot on Silva and the ref goes "peep!"
Mexico were palpably the better side for the vast majority of the 90 minutes but when the game didn't spark into life Portugal - with Ronaldo and Quaresma in fine fettle - looked the deadlier.
All in all that was a just result in what was truth be told a rather entertaining affair that had it all!
Viva Confederations Cup, as it were!
Thank you for reading, Anirudh Menon signing out...
Toodle-ooo!