MEXICO CITY — The variety of instances that the United States males’s nationwide group has walked out of Estadio Azteca seething, on the mistaken finish of a scoreline, are too many to rely. Often it was as a result of the guests had been subjected to demise by 1,000 passes, no match for Mexico‘s methodical possession recreation, and taunted by the “Ole!” calls of the group. And, on the uncommon events when the U.S. left Mexico Metropolis with a draw, it was with the sensation that it had survived moderately than thrived.
On Thursday, the U.S. group’s 0-0 draw got here from a a lot totally different place. It was the guests that carved out the higher possibilities on the Azteca, particularly within the first half. It was Mexico that rode the new fingers of a goalkeeper, on this case Memo Ochoa, to outlive. Mexico’s xG of 0.55 was its lowest in its qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup.
Sure, the U.S. limped throughout the end line, taking an anywhere-will-do strategy to passing over the past quarter-hour. Supervisor Gregg Berhalter threw on nearly each accessible defender he had — each Erik Palmer-Brown and Aaron Long earned their first appearances in a World Cup qualifier. It was sufficient for the U.S. to safe a priceless level on the highway.
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So it is tough to know precisely how you can really feel in regards to the consequence and its affect within the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings. Heading into this fixture window, 4 factors appeared ample to get the U.S. to Qatar. This consequence units Berhalter’s aspect up nicely to attain that purpose. That it did so lacking a quartet of necessary gamers in Weston McKennie, Brenden Aaronson, Matt Turner and Sergino Dest added to the great vibes on the closing whistle.
But that sense of accomplishment walked side-by-side with disappointment, and for a number of causes. This was a type of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying nights that served up a present within the type of Panama drawing 1-1 with bottom-of-the-table Honduras. A win by the U.S. over the Canaleros in Orlando on Sunday and the U.S. can attain its four-point purpose and cease worrying about Panama edging it out of a World Cup spot prefer it did 4 years in the past.
However right here comes Costa Rica. The U.S. did not get the requisite assist from Canada, with Los Ticos prevailing 1-0. Now Costa Rica has crept inside three factors of each the U.S. and Mexico. There’s an opportunity that the final-day fixture the U.S. has in San Jose towards the Ticos might nonetheless have some that means. A win on Thursday would have saved them at arm’s size. Maybe that is why Berhalter known as Thursday’s consequence a “optimistic disappointment,” although for the gamers it strayed in the direction of the previous moderately than the latter.
“The group is jazzed, they’re psyched,” Berhalter mentioned. “We needed to be the primary [U.S] group to beat Mexico on the Azteca. We fell just a little bit brief, however the temper’s not down, under no circumstances. It is the other.”
Ought to the USMNT really feel upset with goalless draw at Mexico of their CONCACAF World Cup qualifier?
Maybe later, the U.S. group’s collective ideas will drift to the possibilities it did not convert, and the 2 factors that have been left on the desk. Yunus Musah‘s Thirteenth-minute drive compelled a diving save from Ochoa. No shame there. However Christian Pulisic spurned a wonderful likelihood within the thirty fifth minute, contriving to hit his shot proper at Ochoa following good strategy work by Kellyn Acosta.
An much more wonderful alternative beckoned within the second half, with Gio Reyna showing to tee up fellow substitute Jordan Pefok for a large open alternative, just for the Young Boys striker to make a greater clearance than an try on purpose, all from a mere eight yards. Mexico wasn’t with out its possibilities both. The U.S. might be grateful that El Tri‘s attackers both missed the goal or hit the ball straight at keeper Zack Steffen.
Regardless, the chance in entrance of the U.S. now could be ultimately just like what it confronted over 4 years in the past. Two video games left and the U.S. group’s future in its personal fingers. The house match towards Panama is nicely inside this U.S. group’s skill to get a victory. Deal with enterprise in Orlando, and the journey to Qatar is almost there. There’s nonetheless an opportunity that it may very well be an evening of celebration if different outcomes go the U.S. group’s manner. It could be becoming if El Salvador, with former U.S. worldwide midfielder Hugo Perez on the helm, can do the U.S. a strong.
There are some causes to fret. Reggie Cannon‘s optimistic take a look at for COVID-19, mixed with DeAndre Yedlin‘s suspension for a second warning in qualifying, leaves the U.S. with a shortage of right-backs. Shaq Moore is already ready for the group in Orlando, however that solely goes a number of the manner in the direction of addressing the depth situation in that place.
The yellow card that Tim Weah picked up will drive him to sit down out the Panama match as nicely, however that is countered by the return of Reyna. The Borussia Dortmund attacker logged his first minutes in a World Cup qualifier since final September after struggling an damage, and a mazy run within the second half confirmed off his skill. He definitely deserved an help for the way in which he arrange Pefok.
One other bit of excellent information was that Tyler Adams made it via the sport caution-free, making him accessible for the weekend. “I assumed he was excellent, significantly together with his power ranges,” mentioned Berhalter about Adams. “Perhaps I would prefer to see him on the ball just a little bit extra. However general a very strong efficiency. Our purpose was to get him off round 60 [minutes], and I feel we went just a little bit previous that. However he must be good to go for the subsequent recreation.”
That’s if Adams and the remainder of his teammates can transfer after the power they expended towards Mexico. Berhalter mentioned his group may have loads of time to get better. If they’ll, a ticket to the World Cup may very well be theirs, with no ambiguity as to how they’re going to really feel.