Guillermo "Memo" Ochoa's debut with his new club, AEL Limassol, was far from the storybook start he envisioned, as his team suffered a harsh 5-0 defeat against Omonia. This setback occurred after a summer of uncertainty, where he was a backup in the Gold Cup and a transfer to Burgos in Spain fell through before he landed in Cyprus seeking consistent playing time.
Ochoa's last appearance on a professional pitch was in May for AVS in Portugal's Primeira Liga, where they lost 3-0 to Moreirense. It took him four months to make his debut in Cyprus. The recent defeat has pushed AEL Limassol down from the top spot in the Cypriot First Division to third place, tied on points with Omonia and APOEL but with a lower goal difference.
In his first start for the club, Ochoa managed to hold the line for 21 minutes before Senou Coulibaly scored the opening goal for Omonia. Although Ochoa initially displayed composure and directed his defense, repeated lapses left him vulnerable. The pressure intensified after halftime, with Willy Semedo increasing Omonia's lead in the 50th minute, followed by goals from Evangelos Andreou, Ioannis Kousoulos, and Angelos Neofytou. Despite conceding five goals, Ochoa made several saves, preventing the score from becoming even more one-sided.
Ochoa, born Francisco Guillermo Ochoa Magaña, is a 40-year-old Mexican professional footballer. He is the goalkeeper for AEL Limassol and the Mexico national team. Ochoa has been a Mexican international player since 2005, earning his first cap at age 20 in a friendly match against Hungary.
Ochoa has participated in five FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022) and has gained recognition for his consistent and outstanding performances in the competition. No male goalkeeper has participated in more World Cups than Ochoa. He aims to play in his sixth World Cup in 2026.
Throughout his career, Ochoa has played for Club America, Ajaccio, Málaga, Granada, Standard Liège, Salernitana and AVS. In the World Cups, Ochoa made six saves against Brazil in 2014 and nine saves against Germany in 2018. In the 2022 World Cup, Ochoa saved a penalty from Robert Lewandowski in the match against Poland.
