COMMERCE CITY — Fans of Mexico’s national soccer team hoping to see goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa make some of his patented acrobatic saves for “El Tri” may be disappointed Tuesday night, because backup goalkeeper Moises Muñoz is scheduled to start against Bolivia in an international friendly at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Game time is 8 p.m.
Ochoa, who plays for Malaga CF of Spain’s La Liga, was a sensation this summer at the World Cup, almost single-handedly rescuing Mexico in a 0-0 draw against host Brazil. Muñoz, who plays for Club America in Mexico, was in goal when Mexico beat New Zealand in a playoff last November to qualify for the World Cup.
At the World Cup, Mexico finished second in its group and nearly won in the first round of the knockout phase. Mexico led 1-0 into the 88th minute, but Holland equalized and added a penalty kick goal in stoppage time to oust Mexico.
Mexico barely qualified for the World Cup. The current team is being reshaped by coach Miguel Herrera, who was hired last October as the team’s fourth coach in six weeks. Herrera coached the team through the two-game playoff with New Zealand.
With Ochoa in goal, Mexico played Chile to a 0-0 draw Saturday night in front of 67,175 fans at sold-out Levi’s Stadium, the new San Francisco 49ers home in Santa Clara, Calif. This will be Mexico’s third game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. It lost 1-0 to Colombia in 2007 and beat Bolivia 5-1 in 2009.
