Mexico: 5 Great Victories Against Brazil

Mexico and Brazil are ready to play next Saturday's gold-medal match at the London Olympics. This game means that El Tri will play its first final, and Brazil its third.

Fernando Tena and his squad have already made history, this is the first time the Mexicans will grab a medal. The Verde-Amarela has a lot at stake because the team has never stood atop the podium.

However, this is not the first time these two have faced each other. Actually, there's a lot of rivalry and great games between them.

For the joy of many, Mexico has had several superb performances in front of the South Americans, so let's recall five great victories against Brazil.

5. 1968 Friendly Matches

By 1968 Mexico had already faced Brazil eight times: three in FIFA World Cups and five in friendly matches. However, El Tri had never defeated the Verde-Amarela.

On July 10, just three months before the Olympic Games, Mexico beat Brazil 2-1 at the Estadio Azteca with two goals from Enrique Borja.

After the Olympics, El Tri traveled to Rio de Janeiro to face Brazil at the Maracana. The score favored the Mexicans 2-1 with goals from Isidoro Díaz and Chalo Fragoso.

4. 1996 Gold Cup

In 1996, CONCACAF invited Brazil to play the Gold Cup. As expected, the CONMEBOL squad won all its group stage matches, thus advancing to the direct elimination round.

Mexico did the same and beat Guatemala in the semifinals, while Brazil defeated the United States. It was the first final match between them.

El Tri defeated the Verde-Amarela 2-0 with goals from Luis García and Cuauhtémoc Blanco. Mexico won its first official match against Brazil at the Coliseum Stadium.

It also represented Mexico's second Gold Cup title.

3. 2003 Gold Cup

Brazil played the tournament as an invite and shared Group A with Mexico. In the opening match of the tournament, held at the Estadio Azteca, El Tri defeated the South Americans 1-0 after a superb header by Jared Borgetti.

Both squads reached the knockout stage and faced each other again, this time at the final match.

Brazil, whose top players included Kaká, Adriano, Thiago Motta and Robinho, tried to score the winning goal, but Mexico kept a tight defense.

After 90 minutes, the score was tied at zero and both teams played the first extra time. At the 97th minute, Daniel Osorno received a cross from Mario Méndez, dribbled inside the penalty area and made a left-foot shot that gave Mexico the victory.

2. 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup

In 2005, Mexico claimed its first World Cup. It was the Under-17 tournament, hosted by Peru.

At first, the Mexican media didn't give a lot of coverage and very little was known about El Tri. However, the team's results were surprising and the country showed a lot of interest.

The youngsters gave Mexico what no other football team had given their country: a fifth match. Then a semifinal and followed by what no one expected: a final game.

The rival would be tougher than any other because it was Brazil. El Tri played its best game and scored three times: Carlos Vela, Omar Esparza and Ever Guzmán.

It has been the largest victory margin for Mexico against the Verde-Amarela.

1. 1999 Confederations Cup

No other game against Brazil has been more important or thrilling than the 1999 Confederations Cup final.

Mexico qualified after winning the 1998 Gold Cup, but most importantly it hosted the tournament, which El Tri played in for the fourth time.

The local team defeated Saudi Arabia and Bolivia, and tied with Egypt to secure its ticket to the next stage. Brazil won all its matches.

El Tri defeated the USA in overtime, while the Verde-Amarela trashed Saudi Arabia (8-2).

It was time for the event's two best teams to battle for the title.

Miguel Zepeda opened the score at the 13th minute and José Manuel Abundis extended the lead at the 28th. Serginho took a penalty kick just minutes before the half to keep Brazil close.

Two minutes after the second half started, Roni tied the game, but Zepeda appeared again at the 51st minute and put the score at 3-2.

Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who had already assisted Zepeda and Abundis, dribbled inside the box and sent a shot with his left foot to score Mexico's fourth goal. Brazil's Zé Roberto responded a minute after with their third, but that was it.

Mexico grabbed its most valuable victory in front of the Verde-Amarela.