MEXICO CITY – Estadio Azteca was the host of the biggest, and potentially last, USMNT vs Mexico World Cup Qualifier in a long time. One team trying to assert itself as the new dominant team of the region. The other, trying to fend off that notion. With a stadium that holds 87 thousand fans being limited to 50 thousand, the atmosphere felt somewhat empty.
USMNT vs Mexico Recap: The Dos A Cero That Wasn’t
The game kicked off with a quick dangerous cross that was gathered by Ochoa, however the first five minutes were a bit sloppy and frenetic. A lot of throw-ins and not much pressure from either side, as the US was pressing high and causing a lot of the frantic play.
Mexico applied some pressure off of a corner, and ensuing crosses that ended in a header directly to Zack Steffen. Then immediately back the other way a leaking cross found Yunus Musah at the far post, and Memo Ochoa made a really nice sprawling save.
Deandre Yedlin picked up a yellow in the 26th minute, meaning he will now miss the home match in Orlando against Panama.
After a spell of much ado about nothing, the US has the biggest chance of the night in the 36th minute. A beautiful cross fell to the feet of Christian Pulisic point blank in front of Ochoa, and couldn’t finish it. Credit to Ochoa for making the great stop.
Tim Weah then picked up a yellow in the 38th minute, and he is too out for the Panama match. The resources are thinning for the US.
Mexico found a nice flurry of chances in the last few minutes, and the US needed halftime. A 0-0 half was not a bad result.
During the halftime break, Honduras earned a huge draw against Panama, helping the US and Mexico inch closer to clinching a top 4 spot. Both teams were unchanged at the start of the second half. First big chance of the half came off a nice run by Acosta and a good feed to Pulisic up the left side, who forced another save by Ochoa.
The first substitutions of the night for the USMNT are Giovanni Reyna and Jordan Pefok, on for Tim Weah and Ricardo Pepi. First time back in the USMNT fold for Gio since the opening match against Honduras.
A brilliant spell of play from the USMNT saw Reyna and Pefok alone in front of the goal. Reyna cushioned a perfect ball to Pefok, and he was essentially a wide open goal. His shot on the volley went wide.
After an absolutely scintillating run from Gio Reyna, like Maradona esque, Chucky Lozano had an excellent chance the other way for Mexico.
El Tri made its first two subs of the night in the 80th minute, and Erik Palmer Brown and Aaron Long sub in for the US. The last for the US is Jordan Morris for Christian Pulisic in the 84th.
The full time whistle blows on a 0-0 draw at the Azteca. USA extends its unbeaten run against Mexico to 4 games. The USA sat back for the last 10 minutes or so, and bled out the draw.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Giovanni Reyna
I mean, I’m still mesmerized by the run from Gio Reyna late in the half. He was subbed on in the 60th minute and was the best attacker for the US by a mile. He looked creative and energetic, and almost certainly earned a spot in the starting 11 against Panama.
2. Missed Chances
This game should’ve been Dos A Cero. Christian Pulisic and Jordan Pefok’s missed chances could’ve been the most monumental Dos A Cero since the 2002 World Cup. It just proves that the US are lacking in killer instinct in front of the goal. Something that has to be cleaned up.
3. Panama at Home
The USMNT can clinch a World Cup berth with a win at home against Panama, so long as Costa Rica loses to El Salvador. The US can clinch at least a playoff for World Cup Qualification if they draw Panama. This Panama match is huge for the USMNT and their WCQ chances.
Onto Orlando!
