Guillermo Ochoa’s debut with AEL Limassol took a disappointing turn, as the Mexican goalkeeper allowed five goals in a hefty 5-0 defeat to Omonia on Monday.
This loss culminated a tumultuous summer for Ochoa, who was a backup during the Gold Cup and experienced a failed transfer to Spanish team Burgos before making his way to Cyprus in search of regular playing time.
After a lengthy four-month wait, Ochoa’s much-anticipated return to professional play was marred by poor performance. His last competitive match was in May, when he played for AVS in Portugal’s Primeira Liga — a 3-0 loss to Moreirense, marking the end of his stint in that league.
Assuming this defeat, AEL Limassol fell from the top position in the Cypriot first division, now sitting third, sharing points with Omonia and league powerhouse APOEL, but trailing on goal differential.
Ochoa managed to hold the opposition at bay for only 21 minutes during his inaugural start for the club, his seventh in Europe, before Senou Coulibaly struck first with an unerring shot. Initially, the veteran displayed composure and directed his defense, but recurring defensive mistakes left him vulnerable and forced him to chase the match.
The intensity increased in the second half. Willy Semedo quickly added to Omonia’s lead in the 50th minute, and the scoring spree continued with goals from Evangelos Andreou (75th minute), Ioannis Kousoulos (78th minute), and Angelos Neofytou (83rd minute). While Ochoa made several key saves to prevent a larger defeat, the scoreline highlighted a challenging start to his journey in Cyprus.
Ochoa’s quest for World Cup glory
Ochoa has a clear goal: he aims to achieve a record sixth World Cup appearance. His move to AEL Limassol was motivated by the desire to secure consistent playing time and regain his form, hoping to persuade Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre of his place in the squad for next summer’s tournament.
Mexico is slated to face Colombia on October 11 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during the upcoming FIFA window. Four days later, on October 15, El Tri will compete against Ecuador at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.
Image Source: Guillermo Ochoa @ Instagram
