USMNT vs. Mexico: Match Review

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (Oct. 15, 2024) – Coach Mauricio Pochettino's first taste of the U.S.-Mexico rivalry ended with defeat in Guadalajara, where the U.S. men's national team fell 2-0 in Tuesday's friendly, thanks in large part to a first-half goal and an assist in The second half was thanks to El Tri veteran Raúl Jiménez.

The setback at Estadio Akron ended the United States' seven-game unbeaten streak (5 wins, 0 losses, 2 draws) against Mexico, the longest in the rivalry's 90-year history. It was also the USMNT's first loss to El Tri on Mexican soil since 2009. When they visited, the Americans had posted an impressive 1-0, 3-3 record since winning the last friendly between the two teams south of the border in 2012.

The US is now behind the all-time series of 24W-37L-17D, but still has a lead of 5W-1L-2D in the 2020s and a lead of 17W-10L-8D in the 2000s.

Tuesday's friendly ended Pochettino's debut window, which opened on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Panama in Austin, Texas. Although five players returned to their clubs after that game, Pochettino was able to field a starting XI in Guadalajara that featured only two changes. With Christian Pulisic back in Milan, Malik Tillman made his fifth USMNT career start, playing under striker Josh Sargent in Pochettino's 4-2-3-1. In defense, central defender Miles Robinson replaced Mark McKenzie, who felt a feeling of tension in his left groin before the start of the game. The other nine players, including captain Tim Ream, remained the same.

The Estadio Akron was packed for 17th-ranked Mexico's first official home game in 11 months, and Ream, Yunus Musah and Antonee Robinson were the only American starters to ever play against El Tri on the road. Although the 18th-placed USA maintained both their form and their nerve in a cautious first quarter of an hour, a foul about nine meters inside the USA penalty area presented the hosts with an opportunity.

Fulham's Jiménez stepped up. The 33-year-old hadn't played for Mexico in 11 months, but in the 22nd minute he expertly fired a perfect free kick over the US wall and into the top right corner of the net. Goalkeeper Matt Turner jumped to his left and was able to make a slight touch as the ball came in. It was Jiménez's 34th goal for El Tri, equaling his fifth all-time record, and it sparked momentum from a Mexican shot.

Club América's Kristoffer Lund and Alex Zendejas replaced Antonee Robinson and Musah respectively after halftime. Mexico doubled its lead before the new direction could be determined. Jiménez was the trigger in the 49th minute. He lost the ball to Ream in the penalty area, but then won it back with a well-executed tackle from behind that sent the ball to César Huerta. The Pumas striker then finished the move from 13 yards.

Pochettino brought on his other Liga MX player, Monterrey's Brandon Vazquez, along with Haji Wright and Tanner Tessmann in the 63rd minute. The USA's first good chance to score came seconds later when Lund barely missed a volley from a superb, deep cross from Zendejas. Vazquez then raced on to a slick through ball from Aaronson in the 79th minute and ripped a shot that forced Mexico's Luis Malagón into a sharp save.

The USA enjoyed a significant possession advantage of 63.3% to 36.7% in the second half. Mexico survived the game and ultimately beat the visitors 17-5, with all five of the USA's appearances coming after the break.

Pochettino will reconvene the USMNT in November for the 2024-25 Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals, which will be played as a two-game home-and-away series. The opening game will be played away on November 14th or 15th, with the return game scheduled for November 18th at CityPark in St. Louis, Missouri.

GOAL SCORING OVERVIEW

MEX – Raúl Jiménez, 22nd minute: Roberto Alvarado drew a foul about nine yards from the U.S. penalty area, and Jiménez directed the resulting free kick over the U.S. five-man wall and into the top right corner of Matt Turner's net. MEX 1, USA 0

MEX – César Huerta (Raúl Jiménez), 49th minute: Tim Ream did well to track down and dispossess Jiménez as the striker ran in on a long pass from midfield. But Jiménez recovered and attacked Ream, who sent the ball towards the penalty spot and Huerta. The Pumas striker evaded Miles Robinson and lured a shot to the right from Matt Turner. MEX 2, USA 0 FINAL

-U.S. Men's National Team Match Report-

Match: USA men's national team against Mexico
Date: October 15, 2024
Competition: International friendly match
Venue: Estadio Akron; Guadalajara, Mexico
participation: 43,537
Start: 9:30 a.m. local time (10:30 p.m. ET)
Weather: 69 degrees, mostly clear

Lineups:

USA: 1-MattTurner; 22-Joe Scally, 12-Miles Robinson, 13-Ream (Capt.), 5-Antonee Robinson (23-Kristoffer Lund, 46);14-Gianluca Busio (15-Tanner Tessman, 63), 7-Aidan Morris (2 -Austun Trusty, 83), 6-Yunus Musah (21-Alex Zendejas, 46); 17-Malik Tillman (20-Brandon Vazquez, 63), 11-Brenden Aaronson, 24-Josh Sargent (19-Haji Wright, 63)

Substitutes were not used: 16-Patrick Schulte, 18-Ethan Horvath

Head coach: Mauricio Pochettino

MEX: 1-Luis Malagon; 27-Jesús Angulo (24-Obed Vargas, 82), 5-Johan Vásquez, 3-César Montes, 2-Jorge Sánchez, 18-Andrés Guardado (Capt.), 4-Edson Álvarez, 21-César Huerta (10-Alexis Vega, 68), 17-Orbelín Pineda (11-Germán Berterame, 68), 25-Roberto Alvarado (16-Diego Lainez, 68), 9-Raúl Jiménez (22-Guillermo Martínez, 82)

Substitutes were not used: 13-Guillermo Ochoa, 6-Jesús Orozco, 7-Luis Romo, 8-Carlos Rodríguez, 12-Raúl Rangel, 14-Marcel Ruíz, 15-Sebastián Córdova, 20-Érik Lira, 23-Bryan González, 26-Rodrigo Huescas

Head coach: Javier Aguirre

Statistics overview: USA / MEX

Shots: 5/17
Shots on goal: 1 / 5
Saves: 4 / 1
Corners: 5 / 5
Fouls: 7/14
Offside: 2 / 1

Summary of misconduct:

MEX – Javier Aguirre (caution) 26th minute
USA – Aidan Morris (Caution) 34
USA – Alex Zendejas (Caution) 75
MEX – Edson Álvarez (Caution) 75

officer:

referee: Keylor Antonio Herrera Villalobos (CRC)
Assistant 1: William Uriel Chow Barrios (CRC)
Assistant 2: Victor Fabian Ramirez Fonseca (CRC)
Fourth official: Mario Alberto Escobar (GUA)