United States loses a thriller against Mexico in CONCACAF Cup playoff
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Version 0 of 1. PASADENA, CALIF. — Even by the towering standards of the U.S.-Mexico soccer feud, Saturday’s clash at the Rose Bowl was something else. 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. Amid this gorgeous backdrop, an international spectacle that has flourished in intensity and attention played out in riveting acts before Mexico prevailed, 3-2, on Paul Aguilar’s sensational goal in the 118th minute of the CONCACAF Cup. Javier Hernandez and Geoff Cameron traded early goals, but regulation failed to settle matters. Mexico went ahead in the sixth of 30 extra minutes on Oribe Peralta’s goal, but U.S. substitute Bobby Wood, a 22-year-old Hawaiian who was added to the roster a day earlier because of Alejandro Bedoya’s illness, equalized in the 108th. With a penalty kick tiebreaker looming, the United States failed to clear the ball from danger. Raul Jimenez lifted it to Aguilar for a searing volley from 12 yards that beat goalkeeper Brad Guzan to the far corner. In a showdown between the past two regional champions, Mexico ended a six-game winless streak against the Americans and claimed a berth in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, a valuable test one year ahead of the World Cup. Typical for U.S.-Mexico matches at large U.S. venues, Mexico enjoyed the bulk of support, though not the lopsided ratio of past encounters. For one of the few times, this match also carried immediate consequences. The Confederations Cup prize is largely unfamiliar to casual fans, but a berth in the eight-team competition offers at least three matches against teams of diverse backgrounds and the opportunity to experience Russian stadiums, facilities and logistics. Russia (host), Germany (World Cup), Chile (South American) and Australia (Asian) have already booked their places, with the Euro 2016, African and Oceania slots to be decided. From a psychological standpoint, the outcome carried additional weight. Mexico dominated for decades before the advantage began tilting in the Americans’ favor about 15 years ago, punctuated by a series of 2-0 home victories in World Cup qualifiers that launched the “Dos a Cero” catchphrase. U.S. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann is typically unpredictable with lineup decisions, but on this night, he didn’t cause any alarm. Guzan manned the net, a position he has held since Tim Howard took a year-long sabbatical after the 2014 World Cup. Howard returned last month as No. 2 on the depth chart. Cameron and Matt Besler partnered in central defense, flanked by Fabian Johnson and DaMarcus Beasley. Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman provided support in central midfield, with Michael Bradley, Gyasi Zardes, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore in attacking roles. Any thoughts of a conservative start in order to allow nerves to settle were quickly dismissed. The match roared to life. Mexico was fluid and assertive in possession, while the Americans sought to both counter and catch the Mexicans flat-footed on set pieces. El Tri went ahead in the 10th minute on an elegant sequence. Peralta dummied Aguilar’s pass, sucking Beckerman and Besler out of position. While Peralta continued his off-the-ball run unhindered, Jimenez touched the ball ahead to Peralta undetected on the right side of the penalty area for a two on one in tight quarters. Peralta crossed to Hernandez for an eight-yard one-timer. The Americans answered five minutes later. From near the sideline, Bradley served a free kick with dangerous trajectory, a dipping effort into the path of the 6-foot-3 Cameron, who shed his marker and powered a short-range header into the net. The teams hardly paused. The Americans countered Mexico’s technical superiority with threatening crosses. Tempers flared in the 34th minute when Peralta slid into Guzan, sparking an exchange of shoves and words. Bradley’s set-piece acumen almost broke the tie late in the half, an angled 20-yard free kick that alert goalkeeper Moises Munoz prevented from sneaking into the near corner. Early in the second half, Mexico put Guzan under regular duress. Altidore disrupted the flow by testing Munoz from 18 yards. Hernandez failed to untangle his feet on a cross into the six-yard box. Bending but not breaking, the Americans pressed into the late stage of regulation on level terms. Momentum began to swing their way. Klinsmann waited until the 78th minute to make his first move, replacing Zardes with DeAndre Yedlin. The Americans held their breath in the closing moments when Mexico hollered for a handball on Besler in the box. Salvadoran referee Joel Aguilar did not agree. Mexico went ahead when Aguilar executed a sliding volley to cross to Peralta for an 11-yard finish. But the Americans responded in the 108th minute when Yedlin pushed a through ball into the box for Wood, who struck a low eight-yard shot in stride. Penalty kicks awaited, but Aguilar had other ideas. U.S. notes: Klinsmann is expected to make several roster changes ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey. Mexico will host Panama on Tuesday. |