Mexico closed out 2014 with a whimper, dropping a 3-2 result to 106th-ranked Belarus in a friendly played in Borisov on Tuesday afternoon, just days after defeating World Cup semifinalist Netherlands by the same score in Amsterdam.
El Tri actually took the lead twice against Belarus through a brace from Raul Jimenez, only to watch the home side battle back to equalize twice before ultimately taking the lead for good with nine minutes remaining.
Mexico fielded an entirely different lineup compared to the team that beat the Netherlands with only Paul Aguilar returning to the starting XI at the frigid Borisov Arena, where temperatures dropped into the 20s.
Whether it was the lineup or the weather, Mexico sputtered through an erratic and ineffective first half with an Arturo Gonzalez blast (42nd minute) and a Giovani Dos Santos free kick (16th minute) proving the only real attacking threats by the usually explosive Mexican side.
The match came to life in the second half with four goals in a seven-minute span as both teams exchanged blows. Jimenez beat the offside trap and slotted home in the 48th minute, only for Belarus to equalize 1-1 two minutes later off a penalty kick which struck the post before Sergei Kislyak pounced on the rebound.
Once again it was Jimenez who found himself wide open in the box in the 53rd minute, easily slotting a Dos Santos cross for a 2-1 lead. Belarus replied immediately when Nikolai Signevich headed home a vicious shot by a teammate.
Belarus, which proved lively in their runs and combination play in the attacking half, scored a deserved winner nine minutes from time after two deflected shots led to a chance for Pavel Nekhajchik, who applied the confident finish for the 3-2 scoreline.
Forward stars Carlos Vela and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez came on in the final stages, but couldn't help Mexico get to double-digit victories for the year.
Mexico instead closes out a memorable 2014 campaign with a 9-4-4 record, and will feel good about the progress made under first-year manager Miguel Herrera, who confirmed that a deal to stay on as coach through Russia 2018 is only a formality.
