Mexico goal keeper Raul Sarabia, (#17), heads the ball between team mate Ismael Rojo, (#15) and USA’s Francjk Bayou, (#15), during Friday’s International Arena Soccer Friendly Match at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Ca., May 31, 2019. (John Valenzuela/Contributor)

Mexico’s Brandon Escoto, (#10), control the ball between USA’s Jermaine Jones, (#13) and Uzi Tayou, (#70), during Friday’s International Arena Soccer Friendly Match at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Ca., May 31, 2019. (John Valenzuela/Contributor)

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Mexico’s Rene Flores, (#7), looks to score against USA goal keeper Danny Waltman, (#24), during Friday’s International Arena Soccer Friendly Match at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Ca., May 31, 2019. (John Valenzuela/Contributor)

Mexico’s Brandon Escoto, (#10), pushes USA’s Franck Tayou(#15), out of the way during Friday’s International Arena Soccer Friendly Match at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Ca., May 31, 2019. (John Valenzuela/Contributor)

USA’s Nick Perera, (#77), scores a goal pass Mexico’s Cesar Cerda, (#8), during Friday’s International Arena Soccer Friendly Match at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Ca., Friday, May 31, 2019. (John Valenzuela/Contributor)



USA’s Landon Donovan (#10) controls the ball against Mexico’s Uziel Gonzalez, (#11), during Friday’s International Arena Soccer Friendly Match at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Ca., May 31, 2019. (John Valenzuela/Contributor)

USA’s Nick Perera, (#77), scores a goal pass Mexico goal keeper Raul Sarabia. (#17), during Friday’s International Arena Soccer Friendly Match at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Ca., May 31, 2019. (John Valenzuela/Contributor)

USA’s Kraig Chiles, (#37), and Gordy Gurson,(#3), celebrate after Chiles scored a goal against Mexico during Friday’s International Arena Soccer Friendly Match at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Ca., May 31, 2019. (John Valenzuela/Contributor)

ONTARIO – Team USA captain Jermaine Jones made sure the home team had the final word in front of raucous pro-Mexico crowd on Friday night.

Jones assisted Nick Perera on an insurance goal with less than 2 minutes remaining as the United States defeated Mexico, 7-5, in an international exhibition at Citizen’s Business Bank Arena.

“Mexico is a good side and they came after us but this win shows that this team is believing in itself, and you can see that we have a good team put together,” Jones said.

Inland Empire native Landon Donovan also suited up in a return to international duty for the United States, which is preparing for the 2019 World Minifootball Federation World Cup in Australia this fall.

“The first time I played Mexico I was with the U17s (and) nobody was watching but the intensity was there on the field, and I felt the same way tonight, 20 years later,” Donovan said. “Anytime this game happens or what the circumstances are it means something, and it was a lot of fun.” Related Articles Wright-Phillips scores twice, leading LAFC over Vancouver

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The Ontario Fury’s Israel Sesay opened the scoring in the fifth minute, and Major Arena Soccer League all-time scoring leader Kraig Chiles had a goal and an assist as Team USA ran off to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter.

Team USA goalkeeper Danny Waltman made a number of highlight-reel saves in the first half, but Mexico stormed back in the second half to tie the game at 5-5 on a goal from Hiram Ruiz.

Brian Farber scored his second of the game from a lofted assist from Gordy Gurson as Team USA regained the lead with less than 3 minutes remaining, and Perera put the result away about a minute later with a deftly-placed left-footed shot into the bottom corner.