\n
MEXICO CITY (AP) \u2014 In the 77th minute, Guillermo Ochoa’s time finally came.<\/p>\n
Supporters cheered on the legendary goalkeeper as he took to the pitch to warm up on Wednesday. Before the starting lineup was announced at the stadium ahead of the Mexican final, they shouted “Memo,” Ochoa’s nickname. world cup<\/span> Group match against the Czech Republic. In the 73rd minute, cries of “O Cho A” echoed through the Estadio Azteca.<\/p>\nCoach Javier Aguirre welcomed the 40-year-old veteran to thunderous applause in a match that would have meant farewell to El Tri, satisfying the crowd and the nation.<\/p>\n
“It’s the best thing when they recognize your efforts,” Ochoa said of the fans after the game. Mexico wins 3-0<\/span>. \u201cI always try to leave a mark for them and I think today was the perfect ending.\u201d<\/p>\nof prepare for his farewell<\/span> There was no better match than at the Azteca Stadium, where he made his professional debut with Club Am\u00e9rica in 2004.<\/p>\n“I felt a love for the stadium where I was born and where I grew up.” Ochoa said. “I was in the stands and it just came to me and I said, ‘I want to be on the field, I want to play in this stadium.’<\/p>\n
Ochoa carved his name alongside World Cup greats. Cristiano Ronaldo<\/span> and lionel messi<\/span> Wednesday \u2014 although it has an asterisk. This tournament will be his sixth time being selected for the World Cup squad, but only his fourth if you include his on-field appearances.<\/p>\nOchoa sat on the bench for Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010, and became Mexico’s undisputed “guardian” from Brazil in 2014 to Qatar in 2022.<\/p>\n
The man known as Memo shot to fame after being named Man of the Match in the 0-0 draw with hosts Brazil at the 2014 World Cup. Among them was his brilliant rejection of Neymar’s header, which earned him international acclaim. In the following match against the Netherlands in the round of 16, he showed an equally impressive performance and once again won the Player of the Match award.<\/p>\n
They showed a strong performance in the 2018 tournament as well, keeping a clean sheet against defending champions Germany. And although Ochoa got off to a strong start in the 2022 tournament by being named Man of the Match against Poland, he conceded a goal late against Saudi Arabia, and Mexico were eliminated from the group stage for the first time since 1978.<\/p>\n
Ochoa’s sixth World Cup appearance was in jeopardy until an injury to projected starter Luis Angel Malagon, a key figure in Mexico’s Nations League and Gold Cup triumphs last year, paved the way for this final curtain call. And what a show it was.<\/p>\n
“If I had been asked to write the script a few years ago, I don’t think it would have been any better than tonight,” Ochoa said. “It was amazing. It was perfect.”<\/p>\n
He entered as more than 85,000 Aztecs chanted his name. A song broke out soon after, followed by a cacophony of cheers as he took his first touch.<\/p>\n
After the final whistle, Ochoa’s teammates threw him into the air in celebration.<\/p>\n
“At the end of the day, I think that’s the most beautiful thing of all,” Ochoa said. “Teammate love.”<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
Jack Little is a student at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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