The United States headed into Estadio Azteca facing the newly crowned gold medal winners in a friendly Wednesday night. While this team was fairly different, it was still a team that has presumably created a competitive gap between them and the U.S. squad. It was sure to be a tough test with the possible throwing of objects from the stands adding to the atmosphere. It would also be a defensive team for the U.S. with eight players in the starting lineup with midfield experience.
Starters: Howard (c); Johnson, Cameron, Edu, Castillo; Jones, Beckerman, Williams, Torres; Donovan, Gomez
This meant a 4-3-1-2 to start and Maurice Edu at center back. As tough as a match as this set up, it was also a major opportunity for players to showcase their talent.
The U.S. has not been very successful at Azteca and after the booing and whistling during the U.S. anthem the match was underway. The non-winning ways looked to continue early as Jermaine Jones was called for a questionable penalty just outside the box. The free kick went right into the wall as Tim Howard battled the laser pointers. The match was tense early as Herculez Gomez was pulled down in the box on an offside call.
Early on Mexico tried to reach its strikers deep, but Edgar Castillo continued his improvement under Jurgen Klinsmann. He made two excellent plays in the first ten minutes to keep the match level. The Edu experiment at center back earned him a yellow in the 14th minute for fouling Chicharito. The free kick went into the wall again but Mexico’s penetration was getting farther down the pitch. They were dominating possession.
The defenders were doing a good job of keeping their line but communication was lacking. Edu batted one down to no one in particular creating a great chance. Passing wasn’t crisp. It seemed like a Mexico player was more ready for the passes than the U.S. squad. Beckerman gave away a corner by hitting it back to no one. Tim Howard took out Edu on a corner kick when he came out to punch the ball.
There was no stand out for the U.S. early. Jose Torres was not active in his holding midfielder role. Landon Donovan made a horrible challenge in his own end creating a corner. The entire team seemed to be giving up possession as soon as they gained it. Geoff Cameron had his moments. It is easy to see Castillo’s improvement. The most active player was Gomez who also drew a yellow on Mexican captain Moreno in the 31st minute. Regardless, it would be scoreless at halftime despite major possession by Mexico. Perhaps the biggest story was the uniform, compact play by the rather inexperienced back line.
The second half started with two substitutions for Klinsmann as Terrence Boyd came in for Donovan and Torres exited in favor of DeMarcus Beasley. Donovan was said to have tightness in his left hamstring. Mexico had many looks at goal but none would be threatening. Substitute Elias Hernandez kept sending the ball through the box, but always near a teammate. The U.S. missed a golden opportunity in the 53rd minute on a quick throw from Danny Williams. Gomez fired a shot high but had Boyd wide open in the box. Boyd’s pace continues to impress.
Graham Zusi would enter in favor of Williams in the 60th minute. This was around the time the U.S. had its first stable possession of the match. Gomez took a free kick from 30 that was easily saved but a turnover led to a floating attempt by Beckerman hoping to catch the keeper out of position. It landed on top of the net, but was an impressive effort.
Fabian Johnson and Castillo improved as the game went into the 70th minute. Johnson’s covering was impeccable. He made the left-footed Guardado keep leaking right to find space. Castillo had to deal with a sub and seemed to grow confident. Beckerman moved back to a more defensive position in the second half and was only caught out of place one time. His play added to the stable defending. However, the 74th minute saw Aldo De Nigris come on for Mexico moving them to a two striker set looking to open the scoring. Also, Klinsmann would shake up the defense bringing on Michael Orozco Fiscal for Castillo.
This move would shift Johnson to deal with Elias Hernandez. It was a shake up, but the biggest one came moments later as Brek Shea would get another chance on the wing after being down and out earlier this season. His impact was immediately felt as he took an excellent pass from Beckerman and slid the ball between a defender’s legs. He pressed to the goal line and cut it back finding Boyd. Boyd made a nifty back heel play to Orozco Fiscal. MOF tapped it in just wide of a defender on the line. With ten minutes to play the USMNT was on the verge of getting their first victory at the Azteca. It was odd to see Orozco Fiscal there, but it is a great way to score your first goal for the national team.
It was 23-0-1 against the U.S. for Mexico in their homeland and history was all of the sudden possible. Chicharito would not go quietly as he found a ball and chested it down on the edge of the box. Three U.S. defenders deflected the ball causing a sprawling Howard to make a save. In 2009, Howard let in two goals in which he came off the line. He stayed true this time and made the magnificent save. Chicharito also won a header that was saved well by Howard in the 89th minute. Mexico was pressing, but this game was on the verge of making history. With four minutes of regulation time left, police escorted U.S. fans out as projectiles were sent their way.
Joe Corona would come on just before the four minutes of stoppage time. Mexico was 79-8-32 in games at Azteca coming into this game. It now added another loss to that record as their desperation would go unanswered. It was indeed a great result for the U.S. as many had spoke of the gap forming between these two sides. Klinsmann prepared his squad very well and the play on defense showed.
Howard cemented his prowess in net. Cameron made it clear that he could play at this level. Castillo has improved greatly. The play by the defense in this match helped our claim that it is time to change the guard at center back. Gomez was extremely active. Beckerman plays a smart game completing 25 of 30 passes. Boyd’s future is not in doubt. Yet, somehow two players combining on the attack that scored the only goal of the match were Shea and Orozco Fiscal. Two players that have been scrutinized up and down or even benched by their club coach in the case of Shea. Orozco Fiscal was lost for almost a year beginning in the fall of 2010. Yet he helped take down El Tri.
Maybe that gap isn’t so big after all.