Carolina Railhawks take on the Mexican Olympic National Team

                       

Official Press Release

RAILHAWKS HOST MEXICAN OLYMPIC TEAM

The RailHawks step away from USSF D-2 action this weekend and will square off against the Mexico Olympic National Team in an international friendly at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sunday at 7 p.m.

Mexico is in the U.S. for week of training. In addition to Sunday’s match against Carolina, they played the USL Second Division’s Richmond Kicker’s in Richmond, Va., on Wednesday and they will play a closed-door scrimmage against the N.C. State men’s soccer team on Friday.

Mexico defeated the Kickers 3-1 before a crowd of 3,482 at the University of Richmond Stadium on Wednesday. Mexico’s David Azazola scored the game’s first goal in the 22nd minute. Richmond equalized in the 65th, but Mexico scored a pair of goals in stoppage time, one from Isaac Acuna and the other from Piccolo Rojo, to prevail.

For the RailHawks, Sunday’s match will provide coach Martin Rennie and his players the opportunity to test themselves against some of Mexico’s brightest young talent.

“It’ll be interesting to see just how good they are and to see how good we are against them,” Rennie said. “I’m sure they’ll be moving the ball really quickly and playing up-tempo and they’ll be technically excellent. We’re talking about players that are going to be some of the best players in the world. A lot of the top Mexican players do really well in Europe, so I’m sure there will be some guys we’ll see in the future.”

While Sunday’s match is a friendly, the RailHawks are certainly looking for a strong performance they can build on. They enter the match coming off a 1-0 loss to NSC Minnesota on April 16, and their next two matches will be on the road (May 1 at Rochester; May 8 at Miami).

SCOUTING MEXICO

The Mexican Olympic National Team will compete at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, and attempt to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

Mexico is led by coach Mario Arteaga, who played for Chivas de Guadalajara, Pumas UNAM, Leon and represented for the Mexican Olympic Team in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Arteaga has had a successful coaching career and over the last few years he has been coaching in the Mexican first and second divisions.

Mexico’s roster features a number of young, up-and-coming players, many of whom feature for the biggest clubs in the Mexican Primera.

Forward Antonio Salazar has appeared in three matches and scored two goals while on loan to Jaguares from Guadalajara during the 2010 Bicentenario.

Midfielder Jorge Daniel Hernández Govea has appeared in nine matches and scored one goal for Jaguares in the 2010 Bicentenario.
Forward Angel Sansores or Morelia played in the Copa Libertadores last month and saw time in the 2010 Bicentenario last week.

Midfielder Erik Vera had two assists in Wednesday’s match against Richmond, and goalkeepers Alejandro Dautt and Miguel Centeno combined for three saves against the Kickers.