An end-to-end finish to this clash as both sides threaten, mostly on the counter-attack!
85'
Pineda almost restores Mexico’s three-goal lead! The ball is played into his path, but desperate defending sees his low effort from just inside the area blocked!
84'
Mexico look settled in possession once more as they continue to search for another goal.
81'
Another huge chance for Ireland, but Cota gets down low to smother and the danger is cleared by Mexico.
76'
S. Gleeson has scored a goal for Republic of Ireland!
Ireland now sitting deep trying to contain Mexico, who are looking to wide areas for success.
GOAL IRELAND! It's come from nothing for Ireland! Alanis is unable to clear a cross from the left and Gleeson, who just came on, calmly finishes from inside the area!
73'
S. Gleeson enters the game and replaces D. Horgan.
A. Browne enters the game and replaces C. Christie.
A couple of further changes for Ireland, the first of which sees Alan Browne come on for Christie to make his debut.
The other sub sees Stephen Gleeson replace Horgan.
72'
STAT: Ireland were previously unbeaten in their last eight friendlies against CONCACAF opposition, dating back to a 2-1 defeat to USA in June 1996 (W3 D5).
70'
AWKWARD ONE! Layun, the dangerous crosser that he is, bends in a delightful ball from the right. No one is there to meet it, except for Duffy, and under no pressure at all the centre-half slices his clearance back towards goal, sending it crashing onto the roof of the net!
68'
R. Márquez enters the game and replaces C. Vela.
Another change for Mexico, this one eliciting an enormous applause from the El Tri faithful as long-time servant Rafael Marquez comes on to replace Vela.
66'
Ireland are coming to life a bit in the last few minutes, but it could be attributed more to a lack of urgency from Mexico now that they have widened their lead. El Tri are still looking a threat every time they get forward, even moreso now with Ireland committing more bodies forward.
Minute
Description
64'
E. O'Kane enters the game and replaces C. Hourihane.
W. Hoolahan enters the game and replaces D. Murphy.
K. Long enters the game and replaces J. Egan.
Three changes for Mexico with just over 25 minutes to play. Eunan O'Kane comes on for Hourihane with the first.
The experienced and talented Wes Hoolahan replaces Murphy up top.
Burnley's Kevin Long makes his international debut, replacing Egan in defence.
62'
STAT: The three previous meetings on neutral ground have seen each team get on the scoresheet, with Ireland’s last goals against Mexico coming courtesy of Richard Dunne and Dominic Foley in June 2000.
60'
A rare foray into attack for Ireland, who have struggled to string more than a few passes together in this second half. Murphy sees a long-range strike deflect behind for a corner, which he then arrives to meet in the centre, but his header on the end of McClean's cross is straight at Cota!
58'
J. Aquino enters the game and replaces J. Corona.
O. Pineda enters the game and replaces J. dos Santos.
Two more changes for Mexico, the first of which sees Javier Aquino replace Corona.
The second brings with it the arrival of Orbelin Pineda, with Dos Santos giving way.
56'
CRUCIAL STOP! Dos Santos latches onto the end of a cross, sneaking in behind the defence in all sorts of space at the far post, but his volley is hammered straight at Randolph who manages to stand his ground and see the effort aside!
54'
C. Vela has scored a goal for Mexico! Assist by O. Peralta.
Peralta picks up an assist less than 10 minutes after entering the match.
MEXICO FLIYING HIGH IN NEW JERSEY! Peralta surges forward on the break, bursting into the area and driving a strike at goal. Randolph makes the initial save, but sends the rebound right back onto the feet of the substitute who squares for Vela, and the striker keeps his composure brilliantly to see himself into space and essentially walk the ball across the line!
52'
STAT: Six of Ireland’s last eight goals have arrived in the second half of matches.
50'
Mexico pick up where they left off, in the ascendency, getting forward with regularity. There remains a good intent to their approach, with the likes of Vela and Corona proving very difficult to contain.
48'
James McClean has scored three goals in his last four appearances for Ireland, and with the winger in such good form, it will be interesting to see how long he plays in this second half with an important qualifier looming for Martin O'Neill's side.
46'
O. Peralta enters the game and replaces H. Herrera.
O. Alanís enters the game and replaces H. Moreno.
M. Layún enters the game and replaces C. Salcedo.
Mexico make wholesale changes at the break, the first of which sees Oribe Peralta replace Herrera.
Oswaldo Alanis replaces Moreno.
Miguel Layun replaces Salcedo in defence.
Back underway in New Jersey!
45'
HALF-TIME: MEXICO 2-0 IRELAND.
43'
IRELAND PULL ONE BACK! But it's ruled out for offside! Keogh wins a header and sends it back into the danger area, where Duffy eventually puts O'Dowda's rebound into the back of the net, but it doesn't count.
41'
INCHES WIDE! Gallardo is really making waves on the left, showing plenty of attacking capability. He works a delicious one-two with Vela here, before skipping beyond a challenge in the box and firing just wide of the far post from a tight angle.
39'
There's plenty of white shirts behind the ball now as Mexico are forced to be more patient in their approach. The pace of the match is dwindling as we approach the interval, with Ireland fully responsible, taking the necessary precautions to try and limit the damage.
37'
The physicality is really increasing as Ireland try and compensate for Mexico's skill and precision in possession. The Green Army recognise they need to slow the tempo and congest midfield, but you have to wonder if they realised it too late, staring a two-goal deficit in the face.
35'
Fine challenge! Great piece of defensive work from Christie to slide in with a perfectly timed tackle to halt the run of Gallardo right atop the box. The Mexico full-back did splendidly to get forward, but his counterpart denied him at the vital moment. Back the other way come Ireland who win a free-kick as Vela fouls Egan.
33'
Ireland are having no joy trying to disrupt Mexico's rhythm in possession. They're posing little threat themselves, with Murphy and McGoldrick starting to fade from relevance. Christie and McClean are working hard on the flanks, but they're simply outnumbered when they break into the final third.
31'
STAT: Mexico have lost just one of their last 12 friendlies, coming in their most recent one, a 2-1 defeat to Croatia (W7 D4).
29'
Randolph is forced into action again as Vela tries to catch him out from distance, sending his free-kick on target from over 30 yards, well off to the right, but the keeper covers his ground, parrying over the bar with a pair of strong hands.
27'
Based on starpower, this is probably the result many would have expected, but not so much after watching the first 10 minutes. Ireland more than held their own early, but Mexico's class has shone through here with two lovely team moves resulting in a pair of goals, as they are in complete control approaching the half-hour mark.
25'
Penalty goal scored by R. Jiménez for Mexico!
TWO TO THE GOOD! Calm as you'd like from Jimenez who chips a cheeky effort into the back of the net, sending Randolph the wrong way.
24'
J. McClean gets yellow.
PENALTY TO MEXICO! McClean is livid with his team-mates as he's hung out to dry, somehow finding himself as the last man back as a ball is played over the top. He crashes into the back of Vela and the referee doesn't hesitate in pointing to the spot!
23'
All but the finish! Marvelous running there from Christie, gliding past defenders and riding out challenges en route to the penalty area. Space opens up for a shot, but he gets under the ball, slicing it over the bar! He has to be working Cota from there.
21'
C. Salcedo gets yellow.
Salcedo goes into the book for a late foul, and a cynical one at that, to stop a potential counter.
20'
Mexico are full of energy now, with Ireland managing very little in terms of respite in defence. Gallardo latches onto a loose ball after Ireland fail to properly deal with a corner, but his effort is fearlessly blocked aside.
18'
STAT: Republic of Ireland have gone two games without a goal, they last went three in a row without finding the net in August 2012.
16'
J. Corona has scored a goal for Mexico! Assist by J. Hernández.
MEXICO DRAW FIRST BLOOD! El Tri at their finest there on the break, carving apart this inexperienced Irish defence! Corona takes on Horgan and makes quick work of him, then opening up with a quick waltz beyond Keogh, before smashing a finish beyond the reach of Randolph!
Jorge Hernandez picks up the assist, his first in five appearances for the national side.
15'
Herrera should do better there. The midfielder is left unmarked at the far post, but doesn't accurately judge the flight of the cross in from the left as he lets the ball drift behind harmlessly for a goal-kick. He had time to adjust his run, but simply neglected to do so.
13'
Ireland have their approach figured out, keeping good width on the ball. McClean and Christie are bombing forward at every opportunity, which has forced the likes of Vela and Corona to track back for Mexico, limiting their impact at the other end.
11'
Good response! Mexico find a bit of rhythm as they burst forward on the break, with Vela picked out in space on the right. The winger shows good patience to wait for support and picks out an admirable pull-back for Corona, but the Porto man scuffs the contact, sending his first-time effort wide from 10 yards!
9'
Ireland, despite their weakened lineup, are in control of this match in the early going. Their young midfielders have worked hard to keep possession, with a clear point to prove to their manager for a regular place in the team. O'Neill will be pleased with what he's seen thus far.
7'
STAT: Ireland’s defeat last time out against Iceland ended a run of six games without a loss (W4 D2).
5'
CLOSE! The chances keep coming here, with Ireland negotiating the latest opportunity. McGoldrick is sprung into space on the right and fires a low cross into the centre, but it's just an inch too far ahead of Murphy, who fails to get the decisive touch.
3'
Fast-paced start here in New Jersey as both sides show plenty of attacking intent. Cota has to be quick off his line to deny McGoldrick from latching onto a throughball, before Vela comes close at the other end, cutting in on his right and bending an effort just wide of the far post.
1'
AND THEY'RE OFF! Belatedly, but underway nonetheless. Ireland get us started in their white tops and green shorts, attacking right to left, with Mexico in their green shirts and white shorts.
Hello and welcome to live coverage from MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as Mexico and the Republic of Ireland clash in a crucial friendly for both parties.
For Mexico, this is their only match to prepare for a busy month of June as Juan Carlos Osorio sorts his team ahead of a pair of crucial World Cup qualifiers, leading into the Confederations Cup later this month.
Martin O’Neill is attempting to guide the Green Army to their first World Cup appearance since 2002, and he’s using tonight’s friendly as an opportunity to analyse the depth in his squad, taking with him a very experimental group of players, most of whom lack in international experience.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:
SUBS: Ochoa, Talavera, Marquez, Layun, Alanis, R. Reyes, Lopez, Guardado, Aquino, Fabian, Molina, Hernandez, Damm, Pineda, Gutierrez, G. Dos Santos, Javier Hernandez, Peralta, Lozano.
MEXICO (4-3-3): Cota; Salcedo, D. Reyes, Moreno, Gallardo; Jorge Hernandez, Herrera, J. Dos Santos; Vela, Corona, Jimenez.
Guadalajara’s Rodolfo Cota earns his first senior cap at 29-years-old, but he will be protected by an experienced pair of centre-backs in PSV’s Hector Moreno and Espanyol’s Diego Reyes. Out wide is where Juan Carlos Osorio opts to go with youth, as Carlos Salcedo (23, ninth cap) and Jesus Gallardo (22, sixth cap) get the nod.
It’s a trio of 27-year-olds in midfield as the experienced Hector Herrera and Jonathan dos Santos are joined by Pachuca’s fresh-faced Jorge Hernandez, earning just his fifth senior cap. Up top, Raul Jimenez leads the line, flanked by Jesus ‘Tecacito’ Corona and Carlos Vela.
Martin O’Neill has named very much an experimental side, with the exception of goalkeeper Darren Randolph and midfielder James McClean. Richard Keogh of Derby County, Brentford’s Jon Egan and Brighton’s Shane Duffy make up the backline, the latter of whom have one and eight previous caps to their name.
In midfield, McClean is joined by a plethora of fresh faces, the four of them combining for 14 caps previously – Cyrus Christie, Callum O’Dowda, Daryl Horgan and Conor Hourihane. Up top, Newcastle veteran Daryl Murphy partners Ipswich Town’s David McGoldrick, the pair having just one international goal to their name between the two of them.
Kick-off is imminent now as the anthems sound through MetLife Stadium in front of this crowd of close to 40,000 supporters, creating a wave of green - Irish and Mexican green.
Ireland started strong at MetLife, but it's been all Mexico ever since. Jesus Corona opened the scoring with a lovely individual effort, before Raul Jimenez doubled their lead from the penalty spot after James McClean fouled Carlos Vela - and that's where we stand through 45 minutes.
Mexico have fared very well thus far in qualifying, leading CONCACAF with 10 points from four matches as they are in pole position to reach Russia 2018, with the ability to cement their position with matches home to Honduras and USA forthcoming in the next 10 days.
Ireland have fared well themselves in qualifying, sharing top spot in Group D with Serbia at 11 points through five matches, with a healthy lead over the likes of Wales and Austria (each at seven points), and the ability to widen the gap when they host Austria next weekend.
FULL-TIME: MEXICO 3-1 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. A return to winning ways for Mexico after their shock loss to Croatia last time out. They took control in the first half and goals from Corona and Vela, either side of a Jimenez penalty, gave them a three-goal cushion by the 54th minute. Gleeson pulled a goal back for Ireland in the second half, but the hosts were largely comfortable in seeing out their win.
Commentary
More…