Eduardo Morán / The Journal
Thursday December 24, 2020 | 6:00
In their first preparation game against a First Division team, the Braves of FC Juárez lost 4-1 to the Diablos del Toluca on the field of the Nemesio Diez Stadium yesterday. The Braves’ target belonged to William Mendieta.
The border team broke ranks yesterday and must report to Juárez on Saturday to continue preparations for the Clausura 2021 tournament of the MX League.
Los Bravos, led by Luis Fernando Tena, had faced and defeated the Sub-20 teams of América and Toluca in previous days.
Yesterday was their third preparatory game for the Mexicans under coach Hernán Cristante.
Bravos and Diablos played two halves of 45 minutes each yesterday and Mexico’s state opened the scoring at minute 11, after Hedgardo Marín struck a hand in the area and referee Víctor Cáceres did not hesitate to score the maximum penalty. Ecuadorian Joao Plata was in charge of the rally and did it with his right leg to beat goalkeeper Enrique Palos.
Toluca’s second calamity came at minute 24, when Pedro Alexis Canelo threw a cross into the penalty area, which was finished with his right foot by Plata to put the ball in the back of the net.
Until minute 76 of playing time, the Juarenses approached the scoreboard after Miguel Barbieri committed a foul outside the large area. The free kick was performed by Wiliam Mendieta, who proved to have a well-mannered leg when placing the ball at an angle, impossible for the chorizo goalkeeper.
In the final minutes, Juarez’s defense lost focus on two occasions and that opened the door for the 80th minute Kevin Castañeda to praise his shot with power from half distance, the ball first hit the post and then went to the front of the pot. 3-1.
Finally, in minute 86, Alan Medina sent a center down the left wing that finished Enrique Triverio with his left leg, scoring the Mexican pingo’s fourth goal.
The Juarense team will report to this border again on Saturday 26 December and on Monday 28 there will be a new friendly match, now against the Cimarrones de Sonora (Ezpansión MX League team) in the Olympic Stadium Benito Juárez.