Endrick Shines as Brazil Edges Mexico in a Thrilling Friendly
In a thrilling preparation match for the 2024 Copa America, 17-year-old Endrick, soon to join Real Madrid, scored a dramatic 96th-minute winner to secure Brazil’s 3-2 victory over Mexico. The friendly match, held at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, showcased the young talent’s remarkable skills and provided a glimpse into an exciting future for Brazilian football.
Brazil started the match with intense pressure. Within the first 30 seconds, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli nearly connected with a cross in Mexico’s 18-yard box, signaling Brazil’s attacking intent. Their early dominance paid off quickly when Fulham’s Andreas Pereira weaved through Mexico’s defense and scored in the fifth minute, giving Brazil a 1-0 lead.
Mexico, however, was not ready to back down. As the first half progressed, they gained momentum, with fullback Gerardo Arteaga testing Brazil’s goalkeeper Alisson with a powerful long-range shot in the 20th minute. Despite maintaining possession, Mexico struggled to break through Brazil’s defense and create clear scoring opportunities.
Brazil struck again in the 54th minute, extending their lead to 2-0. A brilliant run and short-range assist from Yan Couto allowed Gabriel Martinelli to find the back of the net. The South American side seemed to be in control.
The match faced a brief interruption in the 59th minute due to anti-gay chants from a portion of the majority-Mexican crowd, a recurring issue in Mexico’s games. Once play resumed, Mexico mounted a comeback. Substitute Alexis Vega made an immediate impact, delivering a powerful cross that Julián Quiñones converted into a goal, narrowing the gap to 2-1.
In the 92nd minute, another Mexican substitute, Guillermo Martínez, capitalized on a corner scramble to equalize, making it 2-2. The dramatic turn of events set the stage for a tense finish
But Endrick, showing maturity beyond his years, sealed the win for Brazil in the 96th minute. A well-placed header off a cross from his future Real Madrid teammate Vinícius Júnior marked his third international goal and secured a memorable 3-2 victory for Brazil.
Looking ahead, Brazil will continue their U.S.-based preparations with a friendly against the United States on June 12 in Orlando. Mexico, meanwhile, will head to San Diego for a pre-tournament training camp.
At the Copa America, Brazil is set to compete in Group D alongside Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Colombia. Mexico will face Ecuador, Venezuela, and Jamaica in Group B.
This exciting match not only highlighted the talent of young stars like Endrick but also set the stage for what promises to be an electrifying Copa America.
