Brazil vs. Mexico: Brazil's Dominance Led by Stellar Play from Ronaldinho

When the Brazilians and Mexicans get together for a friendly, there is nothing cordial about what happens between the lines.

Yesterday was no different.

Brazil beat Mexico 2-1 on Tuesday in what was the first loss for Mexico in 14 matches for head coach Jose Manuel De la Torre. It was also the last game for Mexican legend Oswaldo Sanchez.

The key to Brazil’s victory was once again the relentless play of Ronaldinho, and his effort paid off when he was awarded a free-kick in the 80th minute of play.

As if there was any question that Ronaldinho would drive the ball home, he blasted a shot into the top right corner to equalize the match.

It was the chain of events that led up to the free-kick that turned the momentum, and the goal was the final straw that broke Mexico’s hold on the game.

After the tides had turned, Brazil’s Marcelo scored the game winner just four minutes after Ronaldinho netted his first international goal since October 2007.

With a tough Mexican team out of the way, it is the Brazilians that have a plethora of momentum heading through a series of friendly games. They will not be participating in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers because they have an automatic bid as the host country.

As for Mexico, the end of the game felt like the team had fallen asleep at the wheel since they had been dominating throughout the game. The problem is that no team can give the Brazilians a chance to come back without them taking full advantage of the situation.

While the loss is not a great sign for the Mexicans, if they can use the results as a learning experience, they will be better in the long run.

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