Mexico Fire Manager Jose Manuel de la Torre After Loss to Honduras

Mexico's disappointing showing in the hexagonal stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying has resulted in manager Jose Manuel de la Torre's firing.  

From Fox Sports:

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Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre is out as manager of the Mexican national team following Mexico's disappointing World Cup qualifying loss to Honduras on Friday night.

The Mexican Football Federation announced the move through an official statement on Saturday and have replaced de la Torre with Luis Fernando Tena on an interim basis.

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The move is hardly surprising.

Mexico is fresh off a 2-1 loss to Honduras in Estadio Azteca, once a fortress for Mexico in World Cup qualifying. In four home matches in Mexico City during hexagonal play, El Tri has drawn three matches and lost one. 

Mexico's World Cup chances are also in peril. The team is currently fourth in the standings with eight points behind Costa Rica (14), the United States (13) and Honduras (10), while Panama is nipping at their heels with seven points. 

As it stands on Saturday, Mexico would have to play New Zealand in a playoff to reach the World Cup, as CONCACAF has three automatic berths and the fourth-place team is subject to a playoff. It is far from where Mexico—arguably the region's most talented team on paper—expected to be. 

Chepo has not been able to get Mexico playing at a high level during this stage of qualifying, especially on the attack, where El Tri has a meager four goals in seven games. Only Jamaica, currently sitting at the bottom of the table, has fewer (two). 

Luis Fernando Tena enters with plenty of pressure on his shoulders, as his first match comes against the United States in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday. Another loss, and El Tri could find themselves in fifth place and in danger of missing out on the World Cup altogether.