Football
ESPN staff 7y

Osorio dedicates dramatic Mexico win vs. U.S. to the Mexican people

Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio dedicated his team's dramatic late 2-1 win against the United States to the Mexican people.

Rafa Marquez headed home from a corner kick in the 89th minute to earn his team a first World Cup qualifying win on U.S. soil since 1972 at the end of a thrilling and well-played match by both teams.

Osorio hailed his team and Mexico legend Marquez in his postmatch news conference, but his first comments were directed to the team's passionate fans.

"Before anything else I want to offer this great victory to the Mexican people," said Osorio.

It was a hard-fought game between the two bitter CONCACAF rivals and the U.S. seemed to be on the brink of a winner of its own after Jozy Altidore set up Bobby Wood for the equalizer early in the second half.

But substitute Hirving Lozano provided added pace for Mexico in the game's closing minutes, nearly setting up Javier Hernandez for the winner, before Marquez provided the heroics.

"In the first half we were very good. We dominated the game. In the second half we took precautions," Osorio said. "We have to give credit to the opponent. They played it up to Altidore well and that's how the goal came. When we made the change with Lozano he stretched the game and we wrestled it back."

Osorio called the goal for Marquez a prize and compared his significance to the Mexican national team to the impact that former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel had for Denmark during his illustrious career.

"The goal was a prize for Rafa," Osorio said. "We won justly and if we'd have scored the two that hit the post wed have won more easily."

He added: "Rafa Marquez is to Mexico what Peter Schmeichel was to people from Denmark. I've been involved in retirement of such players. Steve McManaman in Manchester City, for example. Rafa has a love for the game like no one else.

"He wants to play all the games. Today the game rewarded him and I'm very happy for him."

The win gives Mexico a perfect start to the Hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying, with three points in hand at a venue in Columbus, Ohio, where the team has never won. And Osorio said the attack-minded style of play on show against the Americans is something fans and opponents can expect to keep seeing as qualifying progresses.

"It's a big, big win for the Mexican national team, more than it is for me personally. What I recognize in the Mexican player is the bravery [to play with the ball].

"We will keep playing the same way, in the style we identify with and with the talented players we have."

"I'm happy. I share this happiness with the Mexican people."

Mexico continues its qualifying campaign away to Panama on Tuesday, while the U.S. travels to face Costa Rica on the same day.

ESPN FC writer Tom Marshall contributed to this report.

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