Dinamarca defeated Mexico 2-0 in their last preparation match before the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The match was played at Brondby Stadium in Denmark.
Yussuf Poulsen, in the 71st minute, and Christian Eriksen, in the 74th minute, scored the goals for the Danish team, breaking a 272-minute goal drought.
The Mexican team played well in the first half but fell apart in the second half due to numerous lineup changes made by Colombian coach Juan Carlos Osorio.
After many forgettable matches, the Mexican team showed a different face in the first half, playing better football but lacking precision in the final third.
As a team, Mexico had better coordination and created good passing sequences. Individually, Jesús 'Tecatito' Corona, on the left wing, was the standout Mexican player with moments of skill that troubled the Danish defense.
Demark also played seriously and had good moments. Their best players in the build-up were Eriksen and Nicolai Jorgensen, while wings Poulsen and Pione Sisto fell short.
During the game, Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made several important saves, including a low shot from Jorgensen and a one-on-one stop against Thomas Delaney.
Mexico encountered a solid defensive wall led by Simon Kjaer, and their best chances in the first half were two long-range shots - one from Héctor Herrera saved by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, and a slightly deflected free kick from Andrés Guardado.
In the second half, Osorio made six changes in the Mexican squad - three immediately after halftime and three around the 60th minute.
Without Herrera and Guardado, and with veteran Rafael Márquez on the field, Mexico lost dynamism in midfield and started to show defensive weaknesses.
In the 71st minute, Marco Fabián lost the ball in the middle of the field, allowing Eriksen to start the counterattack that Poulsen converted into the opening goal. Operating on the right side, Poulsen dribbled past his marker and placed a precise shot into the top left corner of the net.
Three minutes later, the Mexican defense was exposed by a deep pass for Eriksen. The Danish playmaker calmly finished with a touch that eluded Ochoa, sealing the 2-0 victory.
After this final test, Denmark will face Peru in their first match of Group C in the 2018 World Cup, while Mexico will make their debut against defending champions Germany on June 17th in Group F. (D)