Guardado goal gives Mexico win over Angola
HOUSTON - Midfielder Andres Guardado spared Mexico's blushes with a scintillating second-half goal to earn his team a 1-0 win over Angola in a pre-World Cup friendly on Thursday.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LWaXhYeB4tdw2wKYf7AhJM.jpg)
The long-haired Deportivo Coruna player struck in the 52nd minute after being given space out wide by a pinpoint cross from Alberto Medina at the Reliant Stadium.
Guardado unleashed a rasping left-foot strike that was parried away by Angola goalkeeper Joao Mamona Luis Lama but the Mexican followed up and buried the ball in the left side of the net to send the sellout crowd of 70,000 into a frenzy.
Mexico, who play hosts South Africa in the opening game of the World Cup next month, dominated the match with Guardado, Medina and the experienced Cuauhtemoc Blanco prominent in attack.
However, they squandered a string of chances against a team who failed to qualify for the World Cup and were also denied by some superb saves by Lama.
Following their 1-0 win over Senegal on Monday, Mexico at least wrapped up their U.S. tour on a triumphant note and will return home to host fellow World Cup qualifiers Chile on Sunday before they head to South Africa.
Mexico are in Group A at the June 11-July 11 World Cup finals along with the hosts, France and Uruguay.
Follow FFT.com on Twitter
Join FFT.com on Facebook
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack