It was Rafa Marquez.
It was the 37-year-old patriarch of the Mexican national team who scored the game-winning goal in a thrilling four goal, two red card clash.
It was the heart and soul, the leader of the Mexican national team that sent Mexico to the top of Group C.
You can hear what all that means to Mexico fans:
This was a pulse pounding game. After Uruguay’s Matias Vecino’s own goal and red card in the first half put him in the running for worst half of the Copa America Centenario, it seemed as if Mexico would stroll to a win. But up 1-0 on the scoreboard and 11-10 on the field, they were outplayed by Uruguay to start the second half.
Then a very strange thing happened, Andres Guardado was sent off for a second yellow in the 73rd minute. It seemed like a dubious call, even more so because the referee took forever to show the card.
With the next kick of the match Uruguay’s captain Diego Godin attacked a header and drilled it into the goal. All of the sudden it was 1-1, 10 on 10, and it was impossible to tell how the match would end.
It quickly became apparent that Mexico was in the ascendancy. Jesus Corona was subbed off after putting in a shift he won’t remember, and in his absence Hirving Lozano impressed on the wing. While Lozano didn’t play a big part in Marquez’s game-winning goal, he broke down Uruguay’s right side multiple times and provided the cross that eventually turned into Hector Herrera’s dagger goal.
At 3-1, the game was over. Mexico kept on attacking and should have scored a fourth late in the match, but poor decision making caused a late 4-on-1 counter-attack to crumble when it seemed easier to score.
Overall Mexico has to be incredibly happy with their performance. They sit atop Group C because of it, and they scored 3 goals against one of the best defenses in the world attaining it.
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