It was another heated affair between the USMNT and El Tri on Saturday night
By Ivan Yeo
In the 68 times that the United States and Mexico have faced each other, Saturday’s night’s matchup between the two CONCACAF powers at the Rose Bowl might be the most memorable of them all.
For the third straight time, the United States and Mexico clashed with a birth in the FIFA Confederations cup the big prize. As always, drama was in store, but this match took that meaning to a whole new level, twice Mexico took the lead, and twice the U.S. came back both times with the equalizer.
Unfortunately for the U.S., it was Mexico that pushed across that one last goal. Paul Aguilar’s rocket with just two minutes remaining allowed Mexico to stamp its ticket to Russia with a 3-2 win over the United States in the CONCACAF Cup.
“Compliments to Mexico to win the game,” USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “It was an open game until the very end when you thought about how to prepare the penalty shootout, they hit you with that volley.”
With the win, Mexico joins host nation Russia, World Cup champion Germany, Asian Cup winner Australia and Copa America winner Chile for the Confederations Cup in Russia in 2017. The remaining participants to be decided are the European and Oceanic winners, which will be determined next year, and the 2017 African Cup of Nations winner.
“It’s unfortunate obviously,” U.S. striker Jozy Altidore said of not qualifying for the Confederations Cup. “It would’ve been a dry run for us for the World Cup, play against some great teams that prepare you for the World Cup. Obviously it’s a loss, but you go foward.”
After 117 minutes of back and forth drama, El Tri got that one last moment, and made the most of it. Miguel Lauyn played a ball forward towards Raul Jimenez, who kicked it high in the air before DeMarcus Beasley could get to it. The ball headed into the penalty area and Aguilar timed his shot perfectly, as he struck a ball that rocketed past keeper Brad Guzan, beating him far post to send the pro-Mexican crowd into a frenzied pitch. Mexico ran out the remaining two minutes as well as the two minutes of stoppage time to win the CONCACAF Cup.
Mexico thought they had won the match earlier in extra time int he 96th minute. Hector Herrera played a long ball into the penalty area, Aguilar chased it down and made a sliding cross that found the foot of Oribe Peralta. Peralta one-timed a shot that beat Guzan into the back net to put Mexico in front. However, in the 106th minute, it was two U.S. Subs, DeAndre Yedlin and Bobby Wood, that revived the U.S., hopes for Russia. Yedlin played a ball into the Mexico penalty area and Wood made a run inside the Mexico defense and touched a ball past Mexico keeper Moises Munoz into the back net for the equalizer.
“They definitely brought a lot of elements to the game,” Klinsmann said of Wood and Yedlin’s impact in extra time. “Obviously you want to surprise a bit, (and) DeAndre and Bobby really gave life to the team.”
The match’s opening minutes set the tone for a dramatic evening in Pasadena. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez opened the scoring 10 minutes in, which started when Aguilar sent a ball towards Peralta, but he dummied it instead, Jimenez played a ball to Peralta, whose run drew out Guzan, Peralta quickly played a ball to Hernandez, who touched a ball into the back net uncontested to give Mexico the early lead.
The U.S. however had their answer five minutes later. The U.S. won a free kick deep in Mexico’s half of the field, Michael Bradley sent the free kick into the penalty area and Geoff Cameron headed a ball past Munoz into the back net for the equalizer. The second half developed into a stalemate of sorts. Mexico though had one great look in the 59th minute, as Herrera played Jimenez into the penalty area, Jimenez played a short cross into the six-yard box and Hernandez attempted to back-heel a ball into the back net, but couldn’t get control of the ball and the ball rolled over the endline.
“We really didn’t have a hold on the game,” Jozy Altidore said. “We defended for long stretches, and we have to do better overall.”
It wasn’t just the game that was intense, but also the atmosphere in the stands as well. While the crowds at USA-Mexico games in California tends to favor Mexico, and Saturday’s match was no exception, the U.S. crowd at the Rose Bowl on Saturday evening feature more of presence than in recent matches. The American Outlaws were out in full force, as the lower section of the east end of the Stadium was packed in Red, White and Blue to the fullest and they, and the other U.S. fans in attendance, made their voices heard loud and clear, especially on both U.S. goals.
“Unbelievable atmosphere,” Klinsmann said of the 93,000 plus in attendance at the Rose Bowl. “It was an incredible experience, full of emotion and intensity, and just a big thank you to all of them to create that type of atmosphere.”
So another chapter of the USA-Mexico rivalry is in the book, and while the two sides are sure to meet again, probably in World Cup qualifying and friendlies, it will be sure hard to top what we witnessed on October 10, 2015 at the Rose Bowl.
