Copa América 2011, Mexico Vs. Uruguay: Mexico Crashes Out, Fails To Earn A Point

Mexico bowed out of the Copa América with a 1-0 loss to a wasteful Uruguay side. The loss saw the young El Tri squad go home without having earned a single point, its only goal coming from defender Nestor Araujo in the opening game against Chile. Mexico fell behind to an early goal from Uruguay winger Alvaro Pereira, who has now scored two of La Celeste's three goals. El Tri was also lucky not to fall behind further, but some poor finishing from Diego Forlan and Uruguay always kept Mexico with a chance, but the team didn't force Uruguay 'keeper Nestor Muslera into any serious work.

Mexico found it hard to create any chances, the only shot of the game falling to Giovani Dos Santos, and saved by Muslera. Uruguay, on the other hand managed 13 shots, but was wasteful with its finishing, putting only four of those on target, illustrating a potential Achilles heel ahead of the team's quarterfinal showdown with host Argentina, who finally came good and put three past Costa Rica en route to clinching second place in Group A.

Mexico joined fellow CONCACAF representative Costa Rica on the plane home, but will finish dead last in the Copa América standings, being the only side that failed to earn a point at the tournament. While that will certainly be a disappointing result for many fans after Mexico's victories in the Gold Cup and U-17 World Cup, the young U-22 side was always going to be up against it, competing against the senior squads of two outside favorites, Uruguay and Chile, as well as a strong Peru outfit. Factor in the prostitution scandal that sent eight of Luis Fernando Tena's first choice players back home, and it was simply too much for Mexico to handle.

Despite the disappointing results and some less than ideal performances from Mexico's veteran, overage players (save for the excellent work of goalkeeper Luis Ernesto Michel), Mexican fans will be able to take heart in the performances of some of their younger players against South America's best. Araujo and Hiram Mier showed that Mexico can continue to produce solid central defenders, while Giovani Dos Santos, though not on his brilliant Gold Cup form, continued to show why he can be a key component of the Mexican team for years to come.