Bora Milutinovic returned to his home away from home to escape the chorus of criticism his every move seems to provoke in Mexico these days, but his second Los Angeles appearance since he took charge of the Mexican national team indicates he’s not backing down.
With most of the Tricolores’ stars back in Mexico, a squad — bolstered by World Cup veterans Luis Garcia and Claudio Suarez — battled a Colombia to a 2-2 draw Nov. 29 before 44,500 fans at the Coliseum, a result that might quiet things down back home.
At issue is Milutinovic’s insistence on using young, untested players at the expense of proven stars, a practice that resulted in a late 2-1 triumph over Saudi Arabia Oct. 11 at the Coliseum and a 4-1 thrashing by Yugoslavia Nov. 15 in Monterrey.
The last result left Mexicans wondering why Jorge Campos, Ignacio Ambriz, Zaguinho and other favorites weren’t playing.
“Some players I know very well,” said Milutinovic. “I need to find other players. If I think only [about] this player, what [am] I going to do when he has a problem?”
Bora’s plan — similar to that he employed while coach of the U.S. team leading to the 1994 World Cup, is to see as many of Mexico’s players as he can until next summer — when he’ll select the squad he’ll use in qualifying for the ’98 Cup.
Milutinovic got an encouraging look at a few young players. Victor Ruiz fired Mexico ahead in the 13th minute with a curling, 25-yard free kick that fooled Colombia goalkeeper Jose Maria Pazo; Markus Lopez delivered a deft through ball that left Garcia alone in the box in the 74th; and Mario Jauregui created several dangerous situations in the second half.
But goalkeeper Carlos Briones stumbled in his chance to become Campos’ backup, fumbling away several balls, including a 25-yard Mauricio Serna blast in the 80th minute that Osvaldo Mackenzie tucked home for the tie.
Carlos Valderrama — who indicated after the game that he planned to play in Major League Soccer this spring — devised the first goal in the 22nd minute, slicing a ball through three Mexicans en route to the box. Fredy Leon chipped it to Ivan Valenciano, whose 16-yard blast left Briones no chance.
Milutinovic has called up Campos and Zaguinho and two other national team veterans, Joaquin Del Olmo and Ricardo Pelaez, for Mexico’s next game, a Dec. 6 encounter against Slovenia’s under-23 team in Hermosillo.
by Soccer America correspondent Scott French
International Friendly
Nov. 29 in Los Angeles
Mexico 2, Colombia 2. Goals: Ruiz 13, Garcia 74; Valenciano 22, Mackenzie 80.
Mexico — Briones, Higareda, Suarez, Ayala, Lopez, Gallaga (Mora, 46), Ruiz, Coyote, Gomez, Garcia (Del Angel 79), Hernandez (Jauregui, 54).
Colombia — Pazo, Restrepo (Castro, 83), Santa, Mendoza, Cassiani, Lozano (Asprilla, 81), Serna, Rincon, Valderrama, Valenciano, Leon (Mackenzie, 46).
Att.: 44,500.