September 07, 2019.

In a rematch of this year’s Gold Cup Final, the USMNT fell 3-0 to Mexico at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Mexico were vastly superior to the home side throughout the entire match, and they had no trouble picking apart a young USA team still trying to find its rhythm.

From the opening whistle, the Mexican National Team looked calmer on the ball than the USMNT, and they had a couple of opportunities to open the scoring in the first half.

The United States admirably tried to play from the back on numerous occasions, but Mexico’s high press constantly put the Americans in serious trouble. Gregg Berhalter fielded many young faces, and their inexperience showed when Mexico would force poor giveaways near the USMNT goal.

The United States rarely used the long ball as a way to relieve pressure, and that naivety to always come out playing from the back ended up costing them greatly.

In the 21st minute of play, with Mexico completely dominating the territorial battle, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez found the back of the net with a header to give Mexico a 1-0 lead. Corona left USMNT fullback Sergiño Dest in the dust with a slick nutmeg down the touchline, and he played an inch-perfect cross to ‘Chicharito’ at the back post. Mexico’s all-time top scorer was completely unmarked and did not miss from eight yards out.

Ten minutes later, Mexico had a golden opportunity to double their lead, but Corona skied a shot with only Zack Steffen left to beat. The USMNT gave the ball away poorly when trying to build from the back, and the Mexican forwards pounced to try and capitalize on the mistake. Carlos Rodriguez controlled the ball at the top of the box and laid off a pass to an oncoming Corona on his right. Corona opened his body up to curl the ball into the far post, but his shot sailed over the bar.

Mexico continued to ramp up pressure on the USMNT, but the Americans were able to keep the score at 0-1 into halftime.

At the start of the second half, the USMNT looked dynamic and dead set on finding an equalizer. For a few minutes, Gregg Berhalter’s men looked poised on the ball, and they were able to string meaningful plays near Mexico’s goal.

Unfortunately for the home side, those bright spots in the early minutes of the half slowly dwindled away. With the score in their favor, Mexico looked relaxed, and they soon regained control of the match.

In the 61st minute, Corona once again wasted an opportunity to double his team’s lead following a well-constructed counter attack. The Mexican attackers burst forward and moved the ball across the front of attack to find Corona streaking down the right flank. In a similar play to the one he missed in the first half, Corona received a lay off inside the box with acres of space. Corona shot with his right foot this time, but the ball went well wide of the far post.

A few minutes later, Napoli’s new signing Hirving Lozano checked into the match to replace Corona. Seconds into the match, Lozano broke past the USMNT back line with speed and almost found the back of the net with a low, left-footed strike.

In the 77th minute, Mexico finally found a second goal thanks to Eric Gutierrez. In yet another failed effort to play from the back, Zack Steffen gave an errand pass towards midfielder Alfred Morales at the top of the box. Mexico pounced on the mistake, and Gutierrez was able to finish the chance to put his team up by 2-0.

After the second goal, the USMNT looked completely defeated. In the 82nd minute, Ariel Antuna found a third for Mexico to further humiliate a USMNT that throughout the match looked uninspired, unpolished, and even afraid at times.

Lozano collected the ball in his own half and blew by Alfred Morales with ease. Ariel Antuna darted forward to help Lozano, and the Napoli man played a perfect ball across the field to leave Antuna one-on-one. Antuna slotted the ball past Zack Steffen, and pandemonium ensued amongst the thousands of Mexican fans who showed up at MetLife Stadium.

In the 88th minute, the USA earned a penalty kick, and it seemed as if the home side would at least be able to pull one goal back in a humiliating evening. USMNT captain Christian Pulisic oddly handed the ball to 19-year-old Josh Sargent, and the youngster failed to convert from the spot.

After four minutes of added time, the whistle blew, and Mexico earned their most lopsided victory against the USA since 2009.

With World Cup Qualifiers starting next year, the USMNT and Gregg Berhalter have serious work to do if they want to avoid another qualification fiasco.

As for Mexico, ‘Tata’ Martino now extends his perfect start at the helm of the National Team. Martino has won all eleven international games since taking the reins of the team in January of this year.



-Pablo Bayona Sapag / Leonel Pillcorema