Javier Hernandez scored twice to bring 10-man Mexico back from a second-half deficit and draw 2-2 with Nigeria in a friendly on Friday.
The Manchester United forward gave Mexico a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute, taking a cross from Pablo Barrera and sending a low line drive inside the near post from 8m to excite the mostly pro-Mexico crowd of 62,107.
Aide Brown Ideye converted a penalty in the 29th minute to equalize, with Barrera being sent off for handball in the box.
Photo: AFP
Nigeria capitalized on being a man up, taking the lead in the 40th minute as John Ugochukwu’s shot from outside the box was deflected by Mexico’s Diego Reyes and into the goal.
Nnamdi Oduamadi had his shot bounce off the crossbar in the 63rd minute and Mexico made the most of that reprieve when Hernandez equalized in the 70th minute, tapping in an Angel Reyna cross.
Mexico manger Jose Manuel de la Torre said that he was happy with how his team handled being one man down.
“It’s always important that your team be able to adapt to any circumstances,” De la Torre said.
Nigeria manager Stephen Keshi said being up one man did not mean his team was going to win easily.
“We should have won convincingly because they had 10 men and we had 11? It doesn’t play out that way,” Keshi said. “You have seen many games, I’m sure, where you have seen 10 men come back to win a game against 11... We were up and we were thinking that was it. We lost our focus and concentration, and they came back to score.”
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