The U.S. Men’s National Team tied Mexico 1-1 in the inaugural Allstate Continental Clásico on Wednesday night before 55,730 fans at the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals. Forward Jesús Ferreira finished a nice counterattack in the 82nd to level the match as the USMNT extended its unbeaten streak against its fiercest regional rival to five games.
Jesús Ferreira Scores Late Equalizer As USMNT Draw 1-1 With Mexico
Report from USSoccer.com
U.S. head coach Anthony Hudson fielded a starting XI that featured eight players from the 2022 FIFA World Cup roster in a match where quality chances were limited for either side in another chaotic edition of a rivalry which now includes 75 contests.
The USA’s best chance in the opening half came after four minutes when winger Jordan Morris pressured a ball in the box, forcing goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo to step off his line to clear. The ball caromed off of Morris and skidded just wide.
Mexico’s threats came from distance in the first half, with Luis Chavez coming close on a shot from the top of the 18 that sailed just wide right. Chavez and Alexis Vega also whipped two free kicks into the area that narrowly missed Mexico attackers.
The teams played a scoreless opening 45 for a fourth-straight meeting, but Mexico would take the lead 10 minutes after the break when forward Uriel Altuna broke loose and calmly finished past goalkeeper Sean Johnson. It was the first goal that Johnson conceded for the USMNT since 2011.
Mexico nearly doubled its advantage in the 73rd when forward Roberto de la Rosa curled in a shot from 20 yards out, but Johnson was up for the challenge and parried the ball away with a low diving save to his left.
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Ferreira to The Rescue
The turning point came in the span of 30 seconds with less than 10 minutes to play. Mexico’s Carlos Rodriguez hit a shot off the right post and the USA jumped on the rebound to launch a counterattack, with four players advancing the ball forward culminating in a deft outside of the foot cross from Morris to Ferreira, who leveled the match from six yards out.
The teams will meet again in less than two months for another big showdown in the semifinals of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League on June 15 in Las Vegas, as the U.S. seeks to defend its title from the inaugural edition of the tournament. The winner will face either Canada or Panama in the final three days later.
Lineups:
USA: 1-Sean Johnson; 22-DeAndre Yedlin, 3-Walker Zimmerman (Capt.), 5-Aaron Long (4-Matt Miazga, 70), 2-Sergiño Dest (15-Caleb Wiley, 90); 23-Kellyn Acosta, 6-James Sands; 13-Jordan Morris (7-Paxton Pomykal, 89); 9-Jesús Ferreira, 14-Cade Cowell (10-Alan Soñora, 64),19-Brandon Vazquez (11-Aidan Morris, 64)
Substitutes not used: 12-Roman Celentano, 20-Drake Callender, 8-Jackson Yueill, 16-Julian Gressel, 18-Shaq Moore, 21-Joshua Wynder
Head coach: Anthony Hudson
MEX: 1-Carlos Acevedo (Capt.); 2- Néstor Araujo, 3-Israel Reyes, 6-Erick Sánchez, 7-Uriel Antuna, 9-Roberto de la Rosa (11-Ozziel Herrera, 86), 10-Alexis Vega (8-Carlos Rodríguez, 71), 14-Victor Guzmán, 22-Julián Araujo, 23-Jesús Gallardo, 24-Luis Chávez
Substitutes not used: 12-Antonio Rodríguez, 13-Ángel Malagón, 4-Gilberto Sepúlveda, 5-Kevin Álvarez, 15-Alan Cervantes, 16-Fernando Beltrán, 19-Omar Campos, 20-Efrain Álvarez, 25-Edgar Iván López, 26-Aldo Rocha
Head coach: Diego Cocca
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