It wasn’t the most entertaining match but the boys in blue were able to pull off the late win 1-0 over continental rival Mexico. The match was dead even until about mid-way through the second half where a red card sent Mexico down a man. With El Tri down to 10 men, a rejuvenated U.S. squad amped up their attack which led to the Tyler Adams goal. USA defender Antonee Robinson sent a ball to the top of the box where a sprinting Tyler Adams one-timed the ball past the keeper.
USA Starting XI: 1-Zack Steffen; 19-Shaq Moore, 5-Cameron Carter-Vickers, 3-Matt Miazga, 15-Eric Lichaj; 20-Wil Trapp (capt.); 23-Kellyn Acosta, 4-Tyler Adams, 8-Weston McKennie, 11-Tim Weah; 9-Gyasi Zardes
Substitutes: 12-Ethan Horvath, 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 7-Bobby Wood, 10-Cristian Roldan, 13-Andrija Novakovich, 16-Julian Green, 17-Antonee Robinson, 21-Tim Parker, 25-Marky Delgado
The current U.S. roster had a very distinct detail that past rosters never had. I’ve watched the U.S. National Team all my life and this is by far the most diverse roster I’ve ever seen from them. Tonight’s 20-man squad featured 11 black players, with many playing overseas. A refreshing contrast from my childhood where Cobi Jones and Brianna Scurry were my only points of representation.
Mexico dominated most of the match up until the 64′. The USA was missing its flow and the match didn’t really feel like the USA-Mexico rivalry we’re all used to. But all that changed after a foul on Matt Miazga. Miazga, in his own third, had his shirt pulled by Diego Lainez and drew a foul. After the whistle, Miazga approached Lainez and looked down to him. That’s a 6’4″ Miazga looking down in disrespect to a 5’6″ Lainez. To make matters worse, he puts his hand out and slowly moves it down to Lainez’s head (to show how short he is). Tempers flared and Mexico’s players came to their winger’s defense. This was the beginning of the end for Mexico. Just two minutes later, Mexico’s Ángel Zaldívar made a dangerous foul on Will Trapp and was given a straight red. So after dominating most of the match, all the momentum shifted in favor of the Americans.
- U.S. MNT Starting XI Cap Numbers (including this match): Gyasi Zardes (40), Kellyn Acosta (19), Eric Lichaj (16), Matt Miazga (9), Wil Trapp (8), Tyler Adams (7), Weston McKennie (6), Cameron Carter-Vickers (5), Zack Steffen (5), Tim Weah (5), Shaq Moore (3)
- Making his eighth MNT appearance, Wil Trapp captains the side for the sixth time tonight. Trapp has worn the armband in every U.S. match this year except for the 3-0 win against Bolivia on May 28.
- With an average of 23 years, 5 days, tonight’s Starting XI is the youngest the MNT has put out against Mexico in the modern era (1990-present).
- Adams, Weston McKennie and Trapp form the core of the MNT central midfield for the fourth-straight match.
- Matt Miazga and Cameron Carter-Vickers start as the MNT’s center back pair for the third time. The duo partnered in the 1-0 victory against Paraguay on March 27 and the 2-1 defeat at Ireland on June 2.
Midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams played an integral part in possession and chances created the past two matches. Matt Miazga and Cameron Carter-Vickers work well in tandem and Miazga specifically played a solid two matches against both Brazil and Mexico.
My Man of the Match tonight goes to Tyler Adams. The MLS starlet looks to be a mainstay in that central role in midfield and has the pace and confidence to make things happen.
The USMNT come off the international break with a win (Mexico) and a loss (Brazil). Their next test will be against Radamel Falcao and Colombia on October 11.
-Jon J.
Photo: Hakim Wright