In the run-up to last Saturday’s CONCACAF Cup clash with Mexico, US manager Jurgen Klinsmann mentioned that the game might be the last hurrah for the over-30 players in his squad. As the sun set over the Arroyo Seco 10 miles north of Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Mountains wrapped its impressive arms around an ancient oval crammed with 93,723 spectators bathed in a tapestry of sights, sounds and colors.
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Aguilar’s goal sends Mexico to Russian Federation as CONCACAF’s representatives in 2017 and piles the pressure on U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who has faced criticism for a string of poor recent results. It’s not our fault the United States didn’t make it to the final [Of the 2015 Gold Cup] and it’s not our fault what happened with the penalties.
Mexico uncovered a handful opportunities to put the match away before full time.
From a psychological standpoint, the outcome carried additional weight.
And yes, US can still qualify for the Games by beating Canada next week, then overcoming Colombia in a playoff in Rio, but with the Olympic squad stumbling, the Confederations Cup now closed off and next year’s Copa América by no means a certainty to even take place, three big dates for Klinsmann’s 2018 World Cup preparations may be ripped off the calendar.
The win was also monumental for Mexico’s interim head coach, Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti, whose tenure comes to an end with this week’s hire of Juan Carlos Osorio.
It did not take the United States of America long to equalize. Howard returned last month as No. 2 on the depth chart.
As for substitutions, Klinsmann reported afterwards that his third substitution was forced when Fabian Johnson (who was awful in defense, by the way) was forced off with an injury.
Six minutes later, the USMNT scored an equalizer on a Michael Bradley to Geoff Cameron free kick and header.
Any thoughts of a conservative start in order to allow nerves to settle were quickly dismissed. Mexico was fluid and assertive in possession, while the Americans sought to both counter and catch the Mexicans flat-footed on set pieces. Hernandez scored the opener after just 10 minutes.
They were losing 2-0 to their Honduras peers, and for the second Olympic qualifying tournament running, Jürgen Klinsmann’s handpicked coach had failed to ease his side into automatic qualification for the Games. Peralta then crossed to Hernandez for an eight-yard one-timer.
The teams hardly paused. The Americans pace paled in comparison to their Mexican counterparts.
A minute later, Guzan made a diving save on a 25-yard shot by Hector Herrera. As he charged towards the net, the USA captain fired a 16-yard attempt wide right in the 32nd minute and placed another left-sided free kick towards the near post that forced Muñoz to make a diving save just before halftime.
It was more of the same early in the second half as Mexico settled quickest.
DeAndre Yedlin entered for Gyasi Zardes in the 78th-minute, adding a combination of blazing speed and expert defending. The Americans held their breath in the closing moments when Mexico hollered for a handball on Besler in the box.
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Mexico: Aguilar (yellow), Peralta (yellow), Moreno (yellow), Guemez (yellow). The United States drew level again in the 108 minute, Bobby Wood firing through goalkeeper Moises Munoz’s legs.
