MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥� In the 77th minute, finally, it was Guillermo Ochoa’s time.
Supporters had chanted for the legendary goalkeeper as he entered the pitch for warmups Wednesday. They shouted 鈥淢emo鈥� 鈥� Ochoa鈥檚 nickname 鈥� before the starting lineups were announced in the stadium ahead of Mexico’s last group game against Czech Republic. Cries for 鈥淥-cho-a鈥� reverberated through Estadio Azteca in the 73rd minute.
Head coach Javier Aguirre satisfied the crowd, and the nation, by bringing in the 40-year-old veteran to thunderous applause in a match that likely marks his farewell to El Tri.
鈥淚t’s the most beautiful thing that they recognize your effort,鈥� Ochoa said of the fans after . 鈥淚 always try to do it for them, to leave a mark. I think that today was a perfect closing.鈥�
The couldn’t have been better than at the Azteca stadium, where he made his professional debut with Club Am茅rica in 2004.
鈥淚 felt the affection in the stadium where I was born, the stadium where I grew up.鈥� Ochoa said. 鈥淚t came to me when I was in the stands and I said 鈥業 want to be on the field and I want to play here in this stadium.鈥欌��
Ochoa etched his name alongside World Cup greats and on Wednesday 鈥� albeit with an asterisk. While this tournament marks his sixth World Cup squad selection, it’s just his fourth that include on-field appearances.
Ochoa watched from the bench in Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010 before becoming Mexico鈥檚 undisputed ‘keeper from Brazil 2014 through Qatar 2022.
The man known as Memo rose to prominence following a man-of-the-match performance in a 0-0 draw with hosts Brazil in the 2014 World Cup, including a spectacular denial of a Neymar header that earned him international acclaim. He followed that outing with a similarly stunning performance in the round of 16 against the Netherlands, once again earning the player of the match award.
He also delivered a strong performance in the 2018 tournament, including a clean sheet against defending champion Germany. Then, despite starting the 2022 tournament well with a man-of-the-match outing against Poland, Ochoa conceded a late goal against Saudi Arabia to seal Mexico鈥檚 first group-stage elimination since 1978.
Ochoa鈥檚 presence at his sixth World Cup was in jeopardy until an injury to projected starter Luis 脕ngel Malag贸n, who had anchored Mexico鈥檚 Nations League and Gold Cup triumphs last year, opened a path to this final curtain call. And what a show it was.
鈥淚f they had asked me to make a script a couple of years ago, I don鈥檛 think it would have turned out better than it did tonight,鈥� Ochoa said. 鈥淚t was wonderful. It was perfect.鈥�
He entered to the sound of more than 85,000 people in Azteca chanting his name. The songs burst out soon after, followed by cacophonous cheers when he had his first touch.
After the final whistle, Ochoa鈥檚 teammates tossed him into the air in celebration.
鈥淚n the end, I think that is the most beautiful thing of all,鈥� Ochoa said. 鈥淭he affection of my teammates.鈥�
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Jack Little is a student in the University of Georgia鈥檚 Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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