HIGHLIGHTS OF MATCH (SOF)




Initials PS/VS/CR/SS


SPORT: SOCCER

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ENGLAND, SOCCER CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD, DREW 0-0 WITH MEXICO ON SUNDAY AT THE AZTEC STADIUM AT THE START OF THEIR FOUR-MATCH FOOTBALL TOUR OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.

BEFORE A CAPACITY CROWDED OF 105,000 AT A HEIGHT OF 7,340 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL IT WAS A TEST FOR ENGLAND TO SEE IF THEY CAN WITHSTAND THE HEAT AND THIN ATMOSPHERE FOR NEXT YEAR'S WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP.

MANY OF THE ENGLISH PLAYERS SEEMED TO SUFFER FROM THE MIDDAY HEAT AND WERE GRATEFUL WHEN A CLOUD BURST CAME IN THE SECOND HALF.

MEXICO'S GOALKEEPER CASTREJON MADE THE SAVE OF THE MATCH WHEN HE TURNED A GREAT HEADER BY HURST ONTO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BAR BEFORE CLEARING IT OFF HIS GOAL LINE.

MEXICO SOON TURNED THE PRESSURE ON. WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES THEY HAD ALMOST SCORED. GOALKEEPER WEST, NEVER REALLY SURE OF HIMSELF, FUMBLED A SHOT FROM PEREZ BY MANAGED TO GRAB IF AFTER STRETCHING HIMSELF FULLY ACROSS THE THICK CARPET OF GRASS AT THIS STADIUM.

CAPTAIN BOOBY MOORE WAS THE BACKBONE OF THE ENGLAND TEAM. HE ORGANISED HIS DEFENCE INTO AN IMPENATRABLE BRICK WALL AND INSTIGATED MOST OF THE MOVES UP FIELD.

ESTRADA WAS THE STAR OF THE MEXICAN TEAM. WHENEVER HE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE BALL HE LOOKED DANGEROUS. THE CROWD ROARED WHEN A SHOT BY HIM WAS PALMED ONTO THE BAR. THE CROWD ALSO WERE STUNNED WHEN HE CHIPPED A BALL WAY OVER AN OPEN GOAL.