In a match of quickfire counterattacks, the United States men's national team grew its unbeaten run to five matches over Mexico in a 1-1 draw in the Contenintal Clasico on Wednesday in Glendale, Arizona. While it was a friendly to celebrate the 75th meeting between the two sides, it was undoubtedly a competitive match.
The USMNT withstood many attacks by Mexico to equalize. Mexico opened the scoring with an excellent counterattack by Uriel Antuna before the Americans finally got their goal via Jesus Ferreira in the 82nd minute to draw level.
Ferreira's role was an interesting test by interim manager Anthony Hudson as he started the match as a floating 10. Still, despite Ferreira and Jordan Morris exchanging passes in space all match, it took them until almost the close of the tie to connect for a goal.
Diego Cocca's fingerprints are beginning to show on El Tri as their back three gave the USMNT attack trouble. Countering could have been better, but in a short camp in the middle of the domestic season, Cocca will take that. Hudson is in a similar situation where the first half was forgettable, but he can be happy that the adjustments in the second half worked.
James Sands especially stood out, dropping between midfield and defense to allow the wingbacks to push forward. After seeing his loan at Rangers cut short and returning to New York City FC, this performance can likely get Sands on the Gold Cup roster this summer. That is the goal for players who are in this camp, and some may not have improved their stock. But at the end of the day, Hudson now has more match data to help him make decisions for rosters down the line.
Another yellow card is handed out, this time to Kellyn Acosta after taking a bear hug from Herrera in the center of the pitch. There's a small coming together but nothing doing as this will lead to the final kick of the match. It was a gritty game but the United States grew into the match but were lucky that Mexico didn't finish well.
James Sands goes in on the challenge but Mexico are looking for the penalty as we head into stoppage time in the match.
This time it's Walker Zimmerman as the match is getting physical trying to at least maintain the draw.
Mexico rattled the post on one end and Jordan Morris finds Jesus Ferreira to equalize in the 80th minute! Talk about a much needed goal.
Jordan Morris misses a chance and Mexico continued their clinical countering testing Sean Johnson to win a corner kick. No one was on the receiving end of the short corner as El Tri look to add to their advantage.
He'll take the place of Aaron Long as the USMNt doesn't want to concede more goals. But before that can happen, Sonora who just entered will receive a yellow card as Mexico draws a free kick in a dangerous area.
Alan Sonora and Aidan Morris will enter to help steady a midfield that hasn't been present for most of the match. Cade Cowell and Brandon Vazquez will exit allowing the team to get to a more natural 4-3-3.
After Acosta coughs up the ball, Antuna is off to the races and no one is there to stop him giving El Tri a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute. Can the United States answer?
After a goal kick to nowhere, Mexico are on the attack again but Aaron Long clears the chance and Mexico has a corner kick in the 50th minute. Still no real threat is coming from the USMNT.
He'll continue in the match after a coming together with Gallardo as the USMNT look to come out of the gate quickly in the second half.
Jordan Morris has found space in attack but the team hasn't been able to find him as Mexico are asking all the questions in the match so far. Hudson has options on the bench to try and balance the attack and they'll likely enter soon into the second half.
He'll want that shot back as it was an easy claim for Sean Johnson but the strikers aren't getting into the box for El Tri right now. There will be one minute of added time at the half.
Mexico were through on goal again but Dest cleaned up the trouble before it could get to Sean Johnson and now the USMNT are on the break but couldn't make anything of it.
15 minutes remain in the first half and Mexico's experience at the World Cup is beginning to show. Possession has been even between the two teams but Mexico has looked more dangerous with their chances. After an energetic start to the half, the United States will need to adjust.
Pushing forward, Luis Chavez was unable to get his shot on target but Mexico are knocking on the door.
Neither team has been particularly good with the ball as there has been turnovers everywhere in the first 10 mintues of play but the United States has had the best attacking chances so far. Things will need to settle for someone to score a goal, though.
Five mintues into the match, Jordan Morris was on the break and was unlucky to not finish his chance after Cowell played him into space. A let off for Mexico early.
Mexico doesn't look comfortable in possession at all as the forwards are triggering the press so that the midfield can clean up on mistakes.
Sean Johnson gets ready in net as the USMNT will get things underway.
Diving into the lineup there are a few ways that the team may attack versus Mexico but it seems like Brandon Vazquez will lead the line with Jordan Morris and Cade Cowell on the wings. That leaves Ferreira in the middle to pull the strings. It's a role that he can excel in but that he also hasn't played for the national team in a while. Looking to spark the USMNT attack, his role in the first half will be something to watch.
There's a mix of MLS experience along with Cocca looking to see some new faces.
MEX: 1- Carlos Acevedo (capt.), 2-Néstor Araujo, 3-Israel Reyes, 6-Erick Sánchez, 7-Uriel Antuna, 9-Roberto de la Rosa, 10-Alexis Vega, 14-Víctor Guzmán, 22-Julián Araujo, 23-Jesús Gallardo, 24-Luis Chávez
Available Subs: 12-Antonio Rodríguez, 13-Ángel Malagón, 4-Gilberto Sepúlveda, 5-Kevin Álvarez, 8-Carlos Rodríguez, 11-Ozziel Herrera, 15-Alan Cervantes, 16-Fernando Beltrán, 19-Omar Campos, 20-Efraín Álvarez, 25-Edgar Iván López, 26-Ald
Hudson will begin the game with players who have had caps in the past ensuring that his strongest XI is out there from the start.
Starting XI: 1-Sean Johnson, 2-Sergiño Dest, 3-Walker Zimmerman (capt.), 5-Aaron Long, 6-James Sands, 9-Jesús Ferreira, 13-Jordan Morris, 14-Cade Cowell, 19-Brandon Vazquez, 22-DeAndre Yedlin, 23-Kellyn Acosta
Substitutes: 12-Roman Celentano, 20-Drake Callender, 4-Matt Miazga, 7-Paxton Pomykal, 8-Jackson Yueill, 10-Alan Soñora, 11-Aidan Morris, 15-Caleb Wiley, 16-Julian Gressel, 18-Shaq Moore, 21-Josh Wynder
All eyes are on Henry Martin. As El Tri look for a striker, the Club America forward has been lighting up Liga MX and has an excellent opportunity to show that his 26 goals in 36 matches can translate to national team play. Cocca's figuring out who he can trust in the pool and Martin has a chance early to get in his coach's good graces.
There have been a few changes to the roster with Cristian Roldan and Paul Arriola have withdrawn being replaced by FC Dallas' Paxton Pomykal, who is someone who has a lot to gain, having been around the national team but not having broken through into the regular rotation. As a midfielder who can dictate play, there are games where the USMNT can use him but he'll need to show that he's ready for the call.
GOALKEEPERS (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 11/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Sergiño Dest (AC Milan/ITA; 24/2), Aaron Long (LAFC; 31/3), Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 2/0), Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati; 22/1), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 17/1), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; 0/0), Joshua Wynder (Louisville City; 0/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami; 77/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 39/3)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Kellyn Acosta (LAFC; 57/2), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas; 2/0) James Sands (New York City FC; 7/0), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 2/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 16/0)
FORWARDS (4): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 2/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 17/7), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 51/11), Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; 2/1)
