Overhauled El Tri Recovers to Draw 1-1 with Peru in New Jersey
Updated: Sep 30
September 29, 2026 Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, NJ
HARRISON, NJ — The Rafael Márquez era is officially underway, but Mexico national football team is still searching for its first victory. After an extensive squad overhaul, El Tri fought back from an early deficit to claim a 1-1 draw against a disciplined Peru national football team in front of 25,728 fans at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
The friendly match served as the second stop on Mexico’s U.S. preparation tour, following a previous 1-1 stalemate against Colombia. For Peru, currently undergoing its own rebuilding process under Mano Menezes, the result offered promising signs of structure and tactical resilience.
Márquez raised eyebrows ahead of kickoff by making a whopping 11 changes to his starting lineup, introducing an experimental, youth-centric squad. The massive lack of pre-existing chemistry was immediately exposed by Peru’s aggressive high press. La Blanquirroja suffocated the Mexican midfield early on, preventing El Tri from establishing an offensive rhythm.
Peru’s persistence paid off in the 26th minute. Working the ball down the flank, the Peruvian frontline carved through a disjointed Mexican backline, culminating in a sharp, well-earned strike from Jairo Vélez to give Peru a deserved 1-0 lead.
The remainder of the first half devolved into a physical, highly contested battle. Tempers flared frequently, leading referee Jon Freemon to issue early yellow cards to Peru's Marcos López and goalscorer Vélez. Mexico struggled immensely to test Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, heading into the locker room at halftime down a goal and lacking answers.
Whatever tactical adjustments Márquez made at the break paid dividends almost immediately. Mexico took the pitch for the second half playing with an entirely different intensity and a vastly improved shape.
In the 49th minute, El Tri won a crucial set-piece. Denzell García delivered a perfectly flighted cross into the heart of the 18-yard box, where defender Víctor Guzmán out-leaped his marker to fire a thunderous header past Gallese. The VAR confirmed the goal, leveling the score at 1-1 and breathing new life into the stadium.
With the momentum firmly in Mexico's favor, Márquez looked to secure the win by turning to his bench. In the 61st minute, a triple substitution brought on star striker Santiago Giménez, midfield anchor Luis Romo, and defender Diego Campillo. Later in the half, a heavy contingent of Chivas club-mates—including Roberto Alvarado—checked in to maximize attacking chemistry.
Despite commanding a large share of the possession in the final half-hour, Mexico’s final ball lacked precision. Peru remained incredibly organized at the back and continued to threaten dangerously on counterattacks.
In the 70th minute, an uncharacteristic defensive error gave Peru's Álex Valera a point-blank look at goal, but Mexican keeper Óscar García pulled off a spectacular, full-extension save to rescue his team. In the 89th minute, Peru nearly stole a victory when a spectacular scissor kick sailed inches over the crossbar. Ultimately, neither side could break the deadlock before the final whistle.
Attendance/Asistencia: 25,728 (sold out)
MÉXICO 1 – PERÚ 1
PER: (27’) 11 – Jairo Vélez
MEX: (49’) 4 – Víctor Guzmán (19 – Denzell)
MEX: 12 – Óscar García, 4 – Víctor Guzmán (3 – Diego Campillo 62’), 19 – Denzell (7 – Luis Romo 62’), 20 – Mateo Chávez, 27 – Everardo López, 8 – Álvaro Fidalgo (28 – Santiago Sandoval 79’), 17 – Orbelín © (21 – Hugo Camberos 79’), 18 – Obed Vargas, 9 – Germán Berterame (11 – Santiago Gimenez 62’), 16 – Jeremy Márquez, 26 – Isaias Violante (25 - Roberto Alvarado 79’)
Subs: 2 – Jorge Sánchez, 5 - Johan Vásquez, 6 – Erik Lira, 10 – Gilberto Mora, 14 – Armando González, 22 – Hirving Lozano, 23 – Jesús Gallardo, 24 – Luis Chavez, 29 – Álex Padilla
DT: Rafael Marquez
PER: 1 – Pedro Gallese, 4 – Marcos López, 8 – Erick Noriega, 13 – Marco Huamán (22 – Oliver Sonne 80’), 15 – Renzo Garcés , 2 – Oslimg Mora, 11 – Jairo Vélez (23 – César Inga 84’), 16 – Wilder Cartagena, 7 – Adrián Ugarriza (20 – Alex Valera 69’), 26 – Piero Magallanes (27 – Jhonny Vidales 69’), 19 – Yoshimar Yotún © (17 – Jairo Concha 84’)
Subs: 3 – Alfonso Barco, 5 – Miguel Araujo, 6 – Jesús Pretell, 9 – Gianluca Lapadula, 12 – Matías Córdova,14 – Rodrigo Vilca, 18 – André Carrillo, 21 – Diego Romero, 24 – Bassco Soyer, 25 – Matías Zegarra
DT: Mano Menezes
Booked /Amonestado:
PER: 4 - Marcos López (10’)
PER: 11 – Jairo Vélez (29’)
PER: 15 – Renzo Garcés (45+2’)
MEX: 20 – Mateo Chávez (52’)
Statistics/Estadísticas MEX PER
Shots/Tiros Totales 9 6
Shots on Goal / Tiros al Arco 3 2
Saves/Atajadas 1 3
Fouls Committed/Faltas 14 11
Corners/Tiros de Esquina 4 4
Offside/Fueras de Lugar 2 2
Comments