“After second goal, we got overconfident”: Mexico coach after win ove…

Mexico City [Mexico], June 12 (ANI): Following his side’s win in the FIFA World Cup opener against South Africa, Mexico coach Javier Aguirre expressed happiness at leaving behind the opening game nerves, pointed his focus to the next game and spoke on areas of improvement, such as scoring more goals and not getting too overconfident after early success. mchezo.co.za

The Azteca, where legends of the game, such as Pele and Diego Maradona, reached the summit of football, witnessed another piece of history as co-hosts put behind a winless streak of seven matches in FIFA World Cup openers, securing a 2-0 win over South Africa, courtesy of goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez. The match featured high levels of physicality, with three red cards being given out, most in a World Cup opener.

Speaking to the reporters after the game, as quoted by Reuters, Aguirre said his side could have won 4-0.

“This could have been a 4-0 match, but people were happy. It is the start of the World Cup, we left the nerves behind, and we go with three points. Now we are thinking about what is next," he said.

Mexico dominated the match for long spells and had the numbers game tilted in their favour in the second half, with their opponents down to nine men after two red cards to Sphephelo Sithole (for a foul) and Themba Zwane (for violent conduct). However, the Mexico coach feels that the scoreline did not reflect how superior Mexico was, and the team fell victim to overconfidence.

“We did not play well in the first half. It could have ended 3-0 easily," he said. “We were superior in the first part, but the score did not reflect that. We complicated things for ourselves. After the second goal, we got overconfident, then came the sending-off. We need to improve, but it was a good game," he signed off.

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Following the match, midfielder Erik Lira also said that “sky is the limit" and the focus is on being 100 per cent for the next match and getting those three points. He also called the match an “emotionally difficult" one, pointing out how rare this match was for him and the team to experience.

“This was an emotionally difficult match because we don’t experience something like this many times in life," Lira, who provided an assist in the opening goal, said.

“It was a complicated moment, but we all worked on the mental side so it would not affect us and so we could do our job as well as possible. It was important to get the three points, and luckily we managed to do that. Now we have to make sure everyone is at 100 per cent to prepare for the second match and get the three points again."

“The sky is the limit. We are not going to settle for anything," he signed off. Mexico’s next challenge is South Korea on June 19. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

Top-order batter Devon Conway has been released from the squad after being granted a short period of paternity leave by New Zealand Cricket (NZC), but he is expected to return in time for the second Test against England, which begins on June 17.

Conway requested leave between the two Tests for the birth of his second child. NZC confirmed that while his request had been approved, the left-handed batter would rejoin the squad in London ahead of the Oval Test.

New Zealand said in a statement on Wednesday: “BLACKCAPS batter Devon Conway has briefly returned home to New Zealand to welcome the birth of his second child. Conway will spend some time at home with family before flying back to London ahead of the second Test against England at The Oval, starting Wednesday 17 June.”
In the first Test, which New Zealand lost by 115 runs at Lord’s, Conway scored 1 and 41 in a low-scoring contest.

Meanwhile, Matt Henry, the most experienced pace bowler in New Zealand’s current squad, remains under an injury cloud. Although the right-arm seamer was declared fit for the first Test, he struggled with back spasms and could be a doubt for the next match.

“I think it’s a day-by-day case with Henners,” Tom Latham said before the match. “Fingers crossed, he keeps progressing the way he has from day one to where he is now [on day four]. We’ve got a little bit of extra time now to hopefully get him right and then, fingers crossed, we’ll have a full bowling attack to pick from again.”

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Afghanistan `A` caused a major upset by eking out a four-run win over star-studded India A via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in a rain-marred tri-nation series match here on Thursday. Batting first, India `A` posted a daunting 349/9 in a rain-curtailed 49 overs innings, with Prabhsimran Singh leading the charge with a blazing 84 off 69 balls, supported by half-centuries from captain Tilak Varma (66) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (66). Due to persistent rain intervals, Afghanistan A`s target was revised to 294 runs from 38 overs applying the DLS method.

Following an explosive start by captain Imran (75 not out off 70 balls) and Hassan Eisakhil (34 off 29 balls), Afghanistan kept themselves in the hunt. Bahir Shah (51 off 52 balls), then, joined Imran and the duo took them to 177/2 in 25.5 overs when another spell of rain stopped play. At that stage of the game, Afghanistan were found to be four runs ahead of the par score requirement, which sealed their victory. Earlier, skipper Tilak, vice-captain Ruturaj and opener Prabhsimran made well-timed fifties as India A posted a massive total. Afghanistan bowlers struggled to contain the opposition batters through the India A innings.

India`s run started with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, hammering a 22-ball 44 that contained nine fours. The young left-hander maintained a strike-rate of 200 without even hitting a six, revealing that he is equally adept in finding gaps in the field for boundaries. Sooryavanshi and Prabhsimran added 74 runs for the opening wicket in just 7.1 overs, putting India on course for a big total. Sooryavanshi yet again fell to a bouncer outside the off-stump, this time edging Abdollah Ahmadzai, the most successful Afghan bowler on the day with a five-wicket haul (5/68), to stumper Mohmmad Ishaq while trying a ramp. But India seldom let go that early momentum.

After the short stay of Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran added 79 runs for the third wicket with Gaikwad, who brought up his second successive fifty-plus score of this tournament. Prabhsimran fell to part-timer Imran Mir close to a deserving hundred, but Gaikwad stayed strong to milk 78 runs for the fourth wicket with Tilak, who also made his second fifty in a row. But Gaikwad and Ayush Badoni fell in consecutive balls to Farmanullah Safi (3/85) as India momentarily slipped to 245 for five from 245 for three in the 38th over. But Tilak found an able ally in the aggressive Suryansh Shedge (40, 27b), as the pair added 70 runs for the sixth wicket from just seven overs as India eased past the 300-run mark.

Brief Scores:
India A: 349/9 in 49 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 84, Ruturaj Gaikwad 66, Tilak Varma 66, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 44; Abdollah Ahmadzai , Farmanullah Safi 3/85). Afghanistan A 177/2 in 25.5 overs (Imran 75 not out, Bashir Shah 51 not out).

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Renowned Indian shooter and high-performance pistol coach Jaspal Rana has passed away at the age of 49. According to National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, Rana breathed his last at a hospital in Delhi in the early hours of Friday. He had recently undergone a medical procedure after falling ill during the Indian contingent’s return journey from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany.

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