September 13, (THEWILL) – Raul Jimenez scored twice, but Mexico conceded a stoppage-time equaliser, as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Uzbekistan in a friendly match in Atlanta on early on Wednesday.
Uzbekistan went ahead in the 18th minute through Bobir Abdikholikov, who rose to meet a cross from Azizbek Turgunboev and angled his header into the corner. However, Mexico struck back swiftly with Fulham forward, Jimenez, levelling just three minutes later, as he converted a low cross from Roberto Alvarado.
Uzbekistan retook the lead before halftime, thanks to a left-foot drive from the edge of the box by Turgunboev. It was again Jimenez, who brought Mexico back on level terms in the 81st minute, taking advantage of some poor defending to clip home.
The comeback looked complete when Uriel Antuna put Mexico 3-2 up after the Uzbek defence failed to clear the danger and Abdulla Abdullaev smashed his attempted clearance against Antuna, the ball ricocheting into the net.
But in the second minute of stoppage time, Uzbekistan won a free-kick wide on the left of the box and Otabek Shukurov blasted the set-piece in the near post past veteran keeper, Guillermo Ochoa, to secure the 3-3 draw. Mexico’s next match is scheduled for 14 October against Ghana in Charlotte, North Carolina. Uzbekistan meet Turkmenistan next in November.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
