In Baltimore, Rafael Márquez began his Mexico tenure with a draw that carried the feel of a changing-room reset on both sides. El Tri recovered from an early Colombian strike to finish 1-1 at M&T Bank Stadium, where 17-year-old Gilberto Mora supplied the equaliser and Colombia started life without James Rodríguez and Juan Fernando Quintero.
Key takeaways
- Mexico drew level in the 62nd minute through teenager Gilberto Mora, who was a central figure in midfield.
- Luis Suárez put Colombia ahead after nine minutes, converting Richard Ríos’s delivery with a firm header.
- Rafael Márquez took charge of Mexico for the first time, while Néstor Lorenzo used the friendly to test new Colombia options.
- Roberto Alvarado and Luis Chávez struck the post and crossbar in the same Mexico attack before half-time.
- Samuel Velásquez, Matías Orozco and Kevin Viveros made their Colombia debuts; Germán Berterame, Jeremy Márquez and Isaías Violante featured for Mexico.
Mexico’s response in Baltimore
Mexico settled into possession early and pressed forward in search of an opening, with Mora directing much of their midfield work. Colombia, however, found the first decisive moment down the right. Ríos drove forward and produced an accurate cross for Suárez, who got ahead of his marker and powered his header beyond the goalkeeper.
The Colombian back line, marshalled by captain Dávinson Sánchez, initially held firm against Mexico’s longer spells on the ball. Márquez’s side came closest in the 32nd minute, when Mora helped construct an attack that ended with Alvarado’s angled effort hitting the right-hand upright. Chávez then met the loose ball inside the area, only to send his shot against the bar.
Mexico resumed with greater urgency after the interval. Hirving Lozano briefly looked to have a clear chance when he ran through against Álvaro Montero, but the Los Angeles Galaxy forward had been flagged offside before his effort was saved.
Colombia had their own second-half threat when Jhon Arias, wearing the national side’s number 10 for the first time, tested Mexico goalkeeper Rangel from a free-kick.
The equaliser arrived soon afterwards. Jesús Gallardo’s long pass released Mora into the penalty area, where the teenager shifted away from Jhon Lucumí with a sharp feint and finished beyond Montero. It was a composed intervention from a player who had already been at the centre of Mexico’s best passages.
New faces for two evolving squads
As the match moved into its final stages, both benches turned the evening into an audition for newer faces. Colombia introduced left-back Samuel Velásquez, Castellón midfielder Matías Orozco and Athletico Paranaense striker Kevin Viveros, the leading scorer in the Brazilian league, for their first appearances in the tricolour shirt.
Mexico gave minutes to forward Germán Berterame, midfielder Jeremy Márquez and winger Isaías Violante. Neither team produced enough penetration to alter the score after the substitutions, leaving the contest level.
Márquez was denied a winning start as Mexico coach, but his side showed encouraging control and resilience after falling behind. Colombia, beginning a new cycle without two of their most familiar creative figures, also left Baltimore with useful signs for Lorenzo’s next selection decisions.
