Mexico vs. New Zealand: What Lopsided Result Means for Both Teams

With a huge 5-1 victory over New Zealand on Wednesday, Mexico took one step closer to Brazil. El Tri are 90 minutes away from finally securing a spot in the 2014 World Cup.

After such a shaky qualification campaign, this is the kind of result Mexico needed. Finally some stability can come to the side after the tumultuous tenure of Jose Manuel de la Torre and the quick reign of Victor Manuel Vucetich.

For those saying the tie isn't over, ESPN Stats & Info pretty much confirmed that El Tri have booked their place for next summer.

This was a match that carried major ramifications for both sides.

Mexico

If you looked closely enough, you may have been able to see the physical fog of doubt lift over Mexico City.

Throughout World Cup qualification and El Tri's eventual fourth-place finish, the air of skepticism in the country was thick.

Could Mexico struggle against what was such a defensively organized team at the 2010 World Cup? Would El Tri have yet another hiccup at the Azteca—a stadium that was once one of the toughest fortresses in the world?

The answer to both queries was an emphatic no.

This performance was unlike almost anything Mexico have done for the past year. The players were confident on the ball and made the most of possession. This wasn't another match where the midfielders couldn't string two passes together or where the strikers were profligate up top.

That swagger that Mexico should always carry was there on Wednesday. They looked capable of advancing to the knockout stages at the World Cup.

Assuming Mexico will be able to hold out for the right result in New Zealand, no longer will Miguel Herrera or his players have to wonder if they will qualify for Brazil. That will help to ease some of the pressure and quiet many of the team's critics.

There's also the financial hit that would have been felt had Mexico failed to qualify for the World Cup. The amount was calculated to be around $600 million lost in terms of sponsorship, merchandise, television revenue and more if El Tri stayed home next summer.

No need to worry about that, either.

New Zealand

This result means New Zealand are all but out of the World Cup.

Having lost 5-1, there's virtually no way New Zealand will be able to advance. They have so much work left to do in the second leg. Sure, they got that away goal, but they still need to score four goals at the minimum. Judging by what you saw of New Zealand on Wednesday, you'd be surprised if they can even score one.

They were poor at both ends of the pitch. There's no getting around it. Frank Isola of the New York Daily News didn't hold back.

When you combine the All Whites' performance in the first leg with their direct, defensive style, you don't get a team that can erase a four-goal deficit against a team as good as Mexico.