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USMNT vs. Mexico: SBI Live Commentary

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The U.S. Men’s National Team and Mexico are set to resume their rivalry on Friday, and the stakes will certainly be high.

CONCACAF’s Hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying on Friday night as the USMNT takes on Mexico at MAPFRE Stadium. Both sides enter the Hex favored for Russia 2018, but the two teams will look to start on a high with a win over their rival.

Both sides bring unique tactical formations to the mix, as both begin the match with three centerbacks in the lineup. Tim Howard also returns to the USMNT lineup, while Timmy Chandler, Jermaine Jones and Omar Gonzalez jump into Jurgen Klinsmann’s XI.

The SBI staff will be offering updates and analysis in the comments section below, so feel free to follow along, and as always, please feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. Bradley, Gonzalez and Besler were liabilities smdh….disappointing result to say the least and considering our record in Costa Rica things could get tricky if we don’t at least get a tie there.

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  2. I am so sick of our team being handicapped by JK. Experiments with a formation in the most important game since Belgium. What was the point of our Oct friendlies? As a result, we look disjointed and go 1-0. Then it leaves us in a hole for subs bc we have to correct the mistake with Orozsco on for Besler. Instead of let’s say Klejstan for Jones. We so happen come out hot with a familiar formation for 2nd half. Mexico is very good right now. but this has to be the last straw. I never felt so strongly that our manager failed us.

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    • In the post game presser, Klinsmann said he took out Besler because he was cramping up. So,k with the sub for Howard and Orozco for Besler, he was limited in what else he could do via substitutions. He chose Yedlin for Chandler, which seemed like a pretty smart choice.

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  3. Apparently no more analysis from SBI. Ben’s had a spot on comment that quickly disappeared. Then nothing more. I used to want to be here for the analysis, but losing reason to be here. Ryan? Ives?

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    • puta comandante si que sos un tipico cobarde sin huevos, apareces cuando te conviene…..tipico mejicano. sigan aciendosen los pesados contra estdos unidos porque todo el mundo sabe que nunca van a tener equipo para ganara un mundial….big fish in little pond mentality.

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  4. Gonzalez with a free header but it’s saved. Seconds later, Bradley has a chance to play in Wood, but opts for a shot that rolls right into the goalkeeper’s hands.

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    • That might’ve changed the game there if Bradley doesn’t kill the second half momentum with a selfish play. I love Bradley, but he saw Wood and could’ve passed it for a pretty easy chance to someone who just scored, but instead he tries a difficult shot, easily saved.

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  5. GOAL BOBBY WOOD! Game on. Just four minutes into the second half, Altidore skins his defender and breaks through. Slides a pass to Wood, whose shot banks off a defender and in. 1-1.

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  6. Jones was inches away from getting a second yellow, sack him. Altidore alters this team’s chemistry, sack him. However, that bench stinks.

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  7. Now, on a more serious note. I said this is going to be a long Hex for USMNT. If Mexico wins, which I dont see USMNT overcoming, then the three favorite teams imo right now in CONCACAF would’ve won away in their first games. And USMNT visiting CR, we may find ourselves 0 points in two matches.

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    • You’re a front running Mexico fan when it’s convenient and disappear when it’s not, but I’m sure everyone appreciates your commentary contribution.

      Let’s talk about the Hex qualification once it’s over. I have a strong feeling you won’t be around to discuss the results for the usual reasons.

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  8. HALFTIME: Mexico up a goal on a deflected Layun finish, but should be up two or three. USMNT forced into a mid-half formation switch, while Howard’s injury deprives Klinsmann of one sub for the second half. USMNT facing a MAJOR uphill climb.

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  9. People are going to criticize Jurgen, and I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve it, but play Pusilic, our one player that can create and beat player, in the middle, wasn’t stupid.

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    • Pulisic has certainly been active. Touch has let him down a few times, but not shocking to see that an 18-year-old is a bit nervous for USMNT-Mexico. Second half should be a bit better for him once he gets past some of the jitters.

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    • I think it’s something he’s not very used to a this point, regardless of where on the pitch he grew up playing. He has been playing well on the wing, and I would’ve liked to see him stay there. He seems like a young NFL QB in the middle, not reading the whole field, kind of staring down his number one option and not scanning. I think he can get better at that, and has done some nice things tonight, but to put him in the that 10 role against this opponent is definitely a big challenge for the kid.

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      • I agree with the ideal of starting hi out wide, but like I said, it isn;t total folly to put him in the middle, since he is our one true creative player.

    • Yes he is! Just watch him when Mexico has the ball. Every game this happens– the worst was that Gold Cup final when Bob was the coach. He cannot or does not pick up players. He leaves the opposing team’s center mids with time and space. I would love to play against that. Guardado and Herrera obviously do. Time and space makes very good players look great. THis is the persistent problem when Bradley plays. This is not a problem when you keep most of the possession, but we don’t do that either.

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      • And to be fair, like I said, it not a problem of making a wrong read or being out of position, but simply too slow. He isn’t a bad player, just a slow one.

  10. So, eventually, I hope, people will realize that Bradley is more of a problem than a solution at this point. Yes, he runs and yes he is in the right place, but all that doesn’t matter if you are so slow that the attackers after untroubled by you. And look, just look, when Bradley “closes” out on anyone, they are never even remotely troubled by him. He has been important in the past, but no, not anymore.

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  11. Three-at-the-back sounded good in theory, but USMNT looks so disjointed. Players not sure when to close, lots of gaps, no one in dangerous positions. Something needs to change.

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  12. GOAL MEXICO! Layun, and there goes the Dos a Cero. Shot seemed to take a weird bounce on its way in, and Howard just can’t get it. 1-0 Mexico.

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  13. Brooks picks up a yellow for a hard foul. Jones nearly gets one seconds later, and probably should have gotten one, for kicking the ball at a down player.

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  14. Chandler?? The man has never played even a half-decent game for the USMNT. Out of shape Jones?? I guess it’s sufficient to be a German to be starting tonight.

    Klinsmann is making it much harder to root for this US team.

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    • Understand the criticism for Chandler, but he’s in crazy form with Eintracht Frankfurt. Is he running out of chances? Sure, but no surprise to see Klinsmann go with the hot player. Jones, meanwhile, may not be 100 percent, but the U.S. doesn’t have a better big-game player. He’ll be up for it.

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    • I dont find it hard to root for my country at all. My father served in the air force for twenty years, so did the fathwrs of Brooks, Johnson, Green, and maybe Chandler.

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    • You’ve been complaining for years about Klinsmann, and evidently you haven’t paid any attention to the form, ability or heart of particular players. Curiously, these are players some have deemed “non-American” (much like their manager).

      …but go on, tell us it’s all about the player, and not the dual-nationality.

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  15. A lot of us eye calling for Jurgen tinplate 3 at the back and he decides to do it in arguably the most important game, against the most important opponent in the hex. I gotta say I love it and it shows Jurgen is open to change after all. With roster at hand it makes too much sense not to try it and I can’t wait to see how it works out

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      • Really? I don’t think I’ve seen that mentioned with any frequency, but I’ll take your word for it.

        I actually don’t mind it because it can be a very defensive formation when it folds back on defense and a nice way to spread out your opposition on offense.

  16. Mexico XI: Talavera, Reyes, Márquez, Moreno, Layún, Herrera, Guardado, Corona, Gio dos Santos, Chicharito, Vela

    Vela a bit of a surprise, but the rest of Mexico’s XI goes to plan. Vela and Corona will be handfuls on the wing. Battle between Bradley/Jones and Herrera/Guardado should be an interesting one.

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    • Definitely a bit of a risk, but he has the pieces to do it. Chandler in form and Johnson given room to roam, which could be very dangerous. Given the two formations, could be a somewhat open game.

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  17. USMNT XI: Howard, Besler, Brooks, Gonzalez, Chandler, Johnson, Bradley, Jones, Pulisic, Wood, Altidore.

    Three at the back for the U.S., while Jones joins the midfield. Klinsmann goes with the in-form Chandler over Yedlin. Will be important for Chandler/Johnson to get forward a bit and put pressure on the Mexico defense.

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