By IVES GALARCEP
MEXICO CITY– The biggest rivalry in CONCACAF will be revived tonight at Estadio Azteca, when the U.S. Men’s National team takes the field to take on arch-rival Mexico.
The U.S. come in off a confidence-boosting 1-0 victory over Costa Rica last Friday, a win that pushed them to second place in the CONCACAF Hexagonal Round standings.
Mexico enters tonight’s match in much tougher shape, having settled for draws in their first two HEX qualifiers, including a 2-2 draw in Honduras that saw them squander a 2-0 lead.
A sold-out crowd is expected at the cavernous Estadio Azteca, with close to 100,000 expected to take in the action in a match locals are calling a must-win for ‘El Tri’ and suddenly under-fire head coach Jose Manuel “Chepo” De La Torre.
The U.S. team could be without centerback Clarence Goodson, who appears to be suffering from an undisclosed injury that could keep him out of tonight’s match. Sporting KC defender Matt Besler could be deputized in his place for a match-up against dangerous Mexican striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez.
SBI will be providing full coverage for the match so feel free to join us for some pre-game conversation as well as coverage throughout the match. You are welcome to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Tonight’s commentary is after the jump):
I said it on another post, we were underdogs tonite and played with grit and smarts. It was an incredibly composed and quite mature performance on the part of the team. Managed the match and neutralized their opponent very well (with a bit of luck on thier side admittedly).
Proud to be a USA fan, feel for all Mexican team fans tonite b/c I know what it’s like to to have my team get screwed by the ref and to see that final ball go lacking.
But I gotta say it’s soooooo nice to not be that guy tonite!
Guzan, Gonzalez, Besler and Beasely were incredible. Cameron was the shakiest of the back bunch and he was still very effective.
Bradley was a boss.
Edu was nearly as solid, like Jones the other night he was fortunate that his one major mental lapse didn’t end up with a PK and card.
Zusi made up for his lack of offensive influence with that 40 yard run back to help defend. Just amazing.
Davis seemed out of his depth.
Altidore couldn’t shake that near early goal, lost his head and never recovered. Shame.
Dempsey seemed to either be neutralized, winded or just disappeared as he sometimes does.
Gomez was pretty neutralized as well.
EJ and Shea did well to make some probing runs, but in the end neither really did much more than keep Mexico honest in their end.
Fantastic result.
Sports enter announcers are hilariously bad. They know absolutely nothing about soccer. Thanks for broadcasting the game, now get me someone who knows what they are talking about.
Re: Jozy, I guess I saw something different than everyone else up thread, because it sure seemed like the only time we generated any offense was playing through Jozy’s feet.
Agreed. That said the amount of times we actually generated a threat would be easy to count on one hand. In the long run that will matter, in this moment it matters little to me.
Agreed, other than that corner kick. The two “chances” were passes from Jozy to someone else. Dempsey wasted his. Mike just didn’t quite get there quick enough.
Actually Guzan had really one great saved, so the keepers wasn’t MVP but Besler and Gonzalez.
Agree, but guzan did have a great game. Did everything he needed today and looked confident in doing so. OG on another level tonight, Besler great tonight.
There is a quality gap. Mexico is better at soccer. US has point, both will go to World Cup. Biggest losser today is Honduras who have a good team but few points.
Huge game from MB…Omar and Besler were freaking solid…savvy defending from both. Midfield D was very organized and compact in the middle…kept a lot of heat off the back line. Mexico had no combo play up the middle. Great shape on D. Unbelievable that Mexico didn’t get that PK call in Azteca. Awesome road point…
First-time ever, the ref didn’t help mex…haha..yes…we were lucky. Last time, Davies scored a legit and mex should had three redcards. KARMA.
We found our pair next game …Gonzo and Besler!
Davis isn’t USNT-type player, Davis was worthless and put us in trouble.
And Dempsey was terrible just for this game.
Biggest story of the night: Mex-USA lead on sports centre. England 2nd. Wow. Soccer taking more than just a token spot on SC.
Guzan is in such great form… Makes one wonder if Howard will have to earn his spot back.
Andres Guardado and Gio Dos Santos have the same haircuts little girls get at Supercuts.
Tough luck for Chicharito (“little penis”) Hernandez tonight. I feel really bad that he’s never scored against the USMNT.
Fuc)(( Mexico, where´s the greatest team?, giants?, come on!! USA USA USA
Not one serious threat on goal all game. Nothing to be proud of here except MAJOR hats off to Brad Guzan, Omar Gonzalez, and Matt Besler for coming together and gelling. The flanks are still better with Chandler and Johnson though.
Edu – Horrible. Zusi – In the right places but no creativity. Dempsey – Looked tired and his one shot was horrible.. Jozy – Did he even play? Gomez – I remember him, but no threatening moves. Subs – Yawn.
Bradley – Okay, but he’s our best attacking and defensive midfielder so whatever he does the other part suffers.
Jurgen. I don’t care what you have to do, but you do it. You get on your knees and you get Landon Donovan back. He would have sliced Meza to pieces tonight.
In any case, I will never spit at a road point in the Hex, let alone vs Mexico away. Feeling much better about qualifying now that two of our 3 toughest away games are down and we managed a point out of the pair.
Jozy did createdsome chances, especially the one for Bradley, but one created for Jozy.
So do we, uh, stick with Guzan? Just putting it out there.
It’s a good problem to have.
The dude is money.. and he’s been ON all year at Villa
Too bad all of our back ups arent like him…
The GK and two center backs work as one position. Guzan, Gonzalez, and Besler is the #1 trio as of tonight. Sorry Timmy.
while i agree guzan is a stud, have you forgot how many times timmy’s bailed us out? Just think about last time we were in Azteca, Timmy completely saved us to win that game. Timmy still is no 1 but couldnt be happier to have guzan as a number 2
it was another gritty result, back to back responses weith good ole american grit…nice 🙂
full moon 🙂
The ESPN Deportes crew look like their favorite pet squirrel died. And one of them secretly ate it.
tainted meat?
I FIGURED IT OUT
HELL FROZE OVER
FIFA DIDNT OVERTURN THE COSTA RICA GAME….
MEXICO DIDNT GET ALL THE CALLS….
(or maybe our envelope was finally fat…like Arab oil fat)
Extreme lack of class from the Mexican players, and coaches attacking the ref after the game.
best tactical/strategical game yet from Coach and staff imo, and well executed.
Besler Gonzo dominated, and Guzan = STUD
no PK call is true, it was a PK
MB was excellent all night
Are you sure that was just tactics? Or were we just unable to generate any meaningful offense despite some possession. Still gotta love the gritty defensive effort, CBs were sublime.
So Klinsmann still has never lost to Mexico.
I’m happy for the points but I don’t think anyone out there was slower than Clint Dempsey tonight. He looked like he was playing in an iron lung!
The back four held up. Beasley for President!
I still think Edu has to be replaced by someone who can distribute the ball and maintain possession. Because the US had to play him, the US was forced to play a VERY defensive-minded game. I think we didn’t manage a shot on goal the entire game…
Could not possibly disagree more. I thought he was the quickest guy on the field for USA.
Edu was outstanding. He was everywhere all game long. Bradley was most of game as well but faded badly late. Was proud of Beasley, they picked on him early and often, and he was beaten, but he fought back, settled in, made some nice recoveries, and battled to the end.
I largely agrea.
one area where I think Bradley can improve though is knowing when to not chase. He’s like a dog chasing a rabbit out there sometimes. You’ll see 2 american players close someone down (bradley usually is one of them) and the guy easily dumps the ball off to Bradley’s man. Then there’s “The Chase” where Bradley gets goal-side again and all the American fans call him awesome.
I’ll agree that his work rate and first touch are both awesome. But his decision making and communication on the field still needs improvement. Since American soccer fans splooge over Bradley because he’s our most complete player I hope Klinsmann is able to tell him these things…
MOTM? Gonzalez? Guzan? Belser?
My vote is Gonzalez!
+1
Menage a Man of the Match
All three.
Ok. GonBesZan. Got it.
+2. Gonzalez more than making up for the Honduras game. Watch for a Europe move very soon.
while they all played great I would say OG. Just a beast tonight
HISTORY.
It appears El Tri forgot to eat their tainted meat.
Man I cannot wait to read Mexico’s version of Brian Strauss’ article, Twellman to Moreno, “Any questions Alejandro?”
If anything will bring a team together and validate the manager it’s getting a result in a place you have only gotten one in history. I need some tums
USA, zero shots on goal?
EVERYONE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WAKE THE F*F*&(FD&S UP BECAUSE WE JUST GOT A POINT IN HELL!!!!
Gonzo and BEASTLER ftw.
Beastler. Love it.
Damarcus BEASTLY!!!!!
Great result. Fantastic luck, perhaps, but a gritty performance. The biggest thing is that CB may suddenly have gone from a barren desert to a position of depth.
Yes. What a job by Beastler and Gonzo. Great result.
And hopefully, we’ll never see the 3 dm triangle again. That may be the other big revelation. 2 games in a row with just MB and a CM partner working together.
I’m particularly impressed by OG, who I always wondered if he was quick enough to handle the speed of world class forwards.
Completely agree. As a galaxy supporter ive always been a OG fan but was unsure how he would do with the speed at the national team level. I couldnt be happier with his performance
Neighbors are slamming doors…complaining…LOL….I’m sure Mexico will compain to FIFA
Mexican coach/players showing the their class.
Careful not to step on any landmines as you walk of the pitch, Mexico.
hahahaha. their tears are delicious.
USA WINS 0-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We win 0-0!
PAPA NEEDS A NEW PAIR OF SHORTS!!!!!
Wipe that dirt off your shoulder JK. Mex players harassing the ref after the game like scumbags stay classy.
Possible hand/arm ball in the box.
Again, Mexico…how does it feel to not get all of the calls?
Let’s be honest. For the first time I can ever remember. We absolutely got the benefit of the calls. In fact, if I were a Mexican fan I’d feel completely robbed. Terrible officiating.
We sure did and I feel zero sympathy of a nation and region that almost always benefits at our expense.
Guzan!!!
Guzan punching like a boss. Such confidence.
Davis does not belong on the field.
dumb by brad davis.
Brad Davis with another steller play
Again, if results stay the same in all matches: MEXICO DEAD LAST IN CONCACAF QUALIFYING.
nope…second to last in front of Jamaica.
PAN 5
CRC 4
USA 4
HON 4
MEX 3
JAM 2
Mo and MB teaming up to shut down the middle there.
Can’t wait to hear that there are 15 minutes of stoppage time left…
And now I need another pair of underpants…
longest 4 minutes of of the 2013 calendar year, so far.
HERE WE GO, this is where we do it
Davis again late to his man.
Twellman–shut up.
Gio could torch us at any second.
Tael man with a shot on GIO lol
Twellman…and from the looks of it GIO heard him with that strike