The win over Panama supplied a preview of the momentum the USMNT can have underneath its new coach, and Mexico can construct it additional. The rent of Mauricio Pochettino was met with a lot enthusiasm, and that confirmed on Saturday night time. Though not the cleanest efficiency in USMNT historical past, there have been a number of positives on the again of the win in Austin over Panama.
Now, the USMNT travels to Mexico for a uncommon away fixture. A win in a rivalry sport would go a great distance towards sustaining what Pochettino has given the USA early on in his tenure.
Panama recap
The USMNT was the higher crew from begin to end on Saturday night time in Austin. Pochettino’s squad got here out on the entrance foot and didn’t enable Panama many probabilities. They have been, nonetheless, scoreless going into halftime after Josh Sargent missed one of the best likelihood of the half.
Happily, they to start out the second half. Christian Pulisic performed an important ball for Yunus Musah to rifle house from six yards out simply three minutes after the restart. Matt Turner made a incredible pair of saves halfway by the second half to maintain the US in entrance. After which, in stoppage time, Ricardo Pepi discovered the again of the online to place the sport on ice.
There are nonetheless some issues to work on. Pochettino solely had a restricted period of time with the gamers earlier than this window. However the vital factor was beginning his tenure with a win, and so they did. Now, the USMNT has a chance to construct extra optimistic momentum with a win in Mexico.
Rivalry with Mexico
Pochettino’s first style of North America’s fiercest rivalry is available in a uncommon sport in Mexico. Maybe much more uncommon, is that the sport is just not being performed at Estadio Azteca in Mexico Metropolis, however at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.
The US has eternally struggled to get wins on Mexican soil. They’ve solely achieved so simply as soon as: a 2012 pleasant at Azteca wherein Michael Orozco Fiscal scored to present the USMNT one in all its most well-known wins underneath Jurgen Klinsmann.
Regardless of struggling in Mexico, the rivalry goes very a lot in favor of the USA proper now. El Tri has not overwhelmed the US since a 3-0 win towards Gregg Berhalter’s aspect in September 2019. Since then, the US has gained or drawn seven straight. That features two Nations League Finals, a Gold Cup Closing and two World Cup qualifiers.
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Preview: USMNT momentum counters Mexico struggles
The USMNT might have had a tough summer time, however Mexico’s was simply as tough. They too have been eradicated from Copa America on the group stage and subsequently fired their supervisor consequently. To interchange Jimmy Lozano, they turned to Javier Aguirre. That is Aguirre’s third stint accountable for El Tri, having managed them on the 2002 World Cup and once more on the 2010 World Cup.
Mexico’s kind is just like that of the US. Within the final twelve months with six wins, six losses and 4 attracts. Attendance at their two September friendlies within the US was bleak. Most not too long ago, they performed an unofficial pleasant towards LaLiga aspect Valencia in Puebla and drew 2-2.
The squad for this sport towards the US is a mixture of expertise and inexperience. Three gamers have over 100 worldwide appearances: Guillermo Ochoa, Andres Guardado and Raul Jimenez. On the flip aspect, 4 gamers have one or zero caps: Bryan Gonzalez, Marcel Ruiz, Obed Vargas and German Berterame.
Notes
Following Saturday’s sport, 5 US gamers have been launched again to their golf equipment: Marlon Fossey, Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic and Zack Steffen.
Tuesday’s sport towards the US might be simply the fifth time Mexico could have performed on house soil because the 2022 World Cup. In that point, they performed a complete of 31 video games. Protection of the sport in Guadalajara is on the market on TNT for American audiences. Kickoff is about for 10:30 p.m. ET.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
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