MEXICO vs USA – RECAP
Mexico and the US played an intense match at the Azteca stadium , and despite reaching the goals numerous times, the match ended scoreless.
The game started with the US pressing high and Mexico struggling to settle in the pitch. When Mexico tried to shoot and finish their plays, keeper Zach Steffen didn’t employ himself too hard. But at the thirteenth minute, Ochoa had an impressive save after a shot by Yunus Musah.
Ten minutes later, with Mexico much more comfortable with the ball, Jimenez couldn’t close on a great cross by Sanchez, and later Corona couldn’t control a through ball by Charlie Rodriguez, and he lost it just in front of the keeper. A few moments later, at the 34th minute, the US countered at high speed reaching Weah, who crossed to Pulisic, but the Chelsea player couldn’t go past Ochoa, who once again showed why he is Mexico’s starting keeper.
The US kept trying from out of the box, but shots by Pulisic and Weah went too far up. Just before the end of the first half, Jimenez tried to connect a cross with a bicycle kick, and as he jumped, the whole stadium reminisced of that goal against Panama in 2013, but unfortunately he couldn’t get to the ball this time.
Three minutes into the second half, Ochoa again had an impressive save after Pulisic took a violent shot with his left foot just outside the small box. Mexico kept trying but all attempts were off-target from Steffens goal. Then, at the 69th minute, after Musah lost the ball just outside the box, Jimenez controlled it and after a challenge by Zimmerman, he fell down inside the box, however the referee didn’t call the fault.
The game kept being played at a fast pace, and going back and forth, until the clearest chance for the States after a beautiful pass by Palmer-Brown that Theoson Siebatcheu kicked out like a defender just in front of the goal. In the next ten minutes Mexico kept pressing with clear chances by Lozano and Sanchez that the US defense dealt with properly.
Just before stoppage time at the 89th minute, Vega successfully dribbled Jordan Morris inside the box, but after feeling the slightest touch, he dived and got a yellow card. Because of this he will miss the next game. Mexico kept trying with Sanchez and Lozano, the two best men for Mexico in the match, but to no avail.
After the final whistle came, the fans at the Azteca booed their team, but this result pretty much guarantees both teams at least half a ticket to Qatar given today’s tie between Panama and Honduras. Mexico and the US end up with 22 points, three more than Costa Rica who could beat Canada at home and four more than Panama.
