Mexico downs U.S. Men’s National Team in 3-2 OT thriller

PASADENA, Calif. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Men’s National Team fell to Mexico 3-2 after extra time in an intense 120 minutes of action in the 2015 CONCACAF Cup. The match was played in front of a sold-out stadium of 93,723 fans at the Rose Bowl, which was the second largest crowd ever to attend an MNT game. With the victory, Mexico qualifies for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.

The U.S. twice came from behind to equalize at 2-2 in the 108th minute, which appeared to be enough to send the game to penalty kicks, but Paul Aguilar’s spectacular volleyed in the 118th proved to be the game-winner.

Mexico got on the board early with Javier Hernandez finishing an Oribe Peralta cross in the 10th minute. It took only five minutes for the U.S. to respond with Geoff Cameron heading home a Michael Bradley free kick to level the game at 1-1. That score line would hold for the rest of regulation.

In extra time, Mexico was again the first to find the net with Peralta scoring in the 96th minute, but again the U.S. rallied and Bobby Wood scored to tie the game before Auguilar’s dagger.

The U.S. will next travel to New Jersey for a friendly against Costa Rica on Tuesday, Oct. 13, which will serve as preparation for November’s World Cup Qualifying matches against St. Vincent & The Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
MEX– Javier Hernandez (Oribe Peralta), 10th minute: Mexico threaded a ball up the middle into its attacking third and Oribe Peralta dummied the ball which ran to Raul Jimenez, who back-heeled it to Peralta who had continued his run. Peralta found himself facing U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan as he drove toward the near post, but as Guzan cut down the angle, Peralta pushed the ball across to Hernandez, who tapped it into the open net to put Mexico ahead early. USA 0, MEX 1 (SEE GOAL) 

USA – Geoff Cameron (Michael Bradley) 15th minute: DaMarcus Beasley jetted down the left side and was chopped down for a free kick near the sideline. Bradley took the kick and swung it into the penalty area. Cameron beat his defender to the ball and headed a hard shot into the net to level the score.  USA 1, MEX 1 (SEE GOAL)

MEX– Oribe Peralta (Paul Aguilar) 96th minute: Mexico caught the U.S. with a long lofted ball over the top on the right side that found Aguilar in the box. As Jermaine Jones and DaMarcus Beasley closed in, Aguilar lunged to push a cross back to the middle that Peralta ran onto and finished drove through the legs of the sliding Geoff Cameron and past Brad Guzan to put El Tri ahead. USA 1, MEX 2 (SEE GOAL) 

USA– Bobby Wood (DeAndre Yedlin) 108th minute: Two substitutes combined for the goal as Yedlin slipped a lovely ball behind the defender to Wood inside the penalty area. Wood timed his run perfectly to beat the back line and then struck his shot first-time through the legs of the Mexican goalkeeper to tie the game. USA 2, MEX 2 (SEE GOAL) 

MEX– Paul Aguilar (Raul Jimenez) 118th minute: With his back to the goal just above the right side of the U.S. penalty box, Jimenez kicked a loose ball high air and it fell right to the crashing Aguilar who smashed an incredible full volley left side of net to give Mexico the win the closing moments of the game. USA 2, MEX 3 FINAL (SEE GOAL)

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
MEX- Moises Munoz, 44th minute: The U.S. earned a free kick just outside on the penalty box near the left corner. Michael Bradley elected to go at goal, and curled a shot around the two-man wall that was headed for the lower left corner at the near post. Munoz hustled across the line and reached the shot on a dive to keep the score level. 

Coming up Next: #USAvCRC
Location: Red Bull Arena – Harrison, N.J.
Date: October 13, 2015
Opponent: Costa Rica

Milestone Watch:

• Geoff Cameron’s goal was the second of his career. Cameron last scored for the USA in a 2013 friendly against Belgium. Both of his goals for the MNT have come from headers.
• Bobby Wood’s goal was the third of his career and his third of the year. Wood has been a clutch scorer and the goal was his third to come after the 80th minute. Wood scored late winners against Germany and Netherlands in June. 

Additional Notes:

• The last time the USA and Mexico went to extra time was in the 1999 Confederations Cup semifinal. This was just the third time the two teams have played into extra time.
• The loss was the first for the U.S. against Mexico in the last seven matchups (3-1-3).
• DaMarcus Beasley made his 11th career appearance against Mexico tonight.
• Brad Guzan made the start at goalkeeper. It was his second career start against Mexico.
• The U.S. is 13-6-5 against Mexico since 2000.
• The loss was the first for Jurgen Klinsmann against Mexico in 12 matches as a player and coach. (5-1-5)
• DeAndre Yedlin’s assist was his fourth of the year.

– U.S. Men’s National Team Match Report – 

Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Mexico
Date: Oct. 10, 2015
Competition: 2015 CONCACAF Cup
Venue: Rose Bowl Stadium; Pasadena, Calif.
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. PT
Attendance: 93,723
Weather: 91 degrees; Partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:             1          2          1ET    2ET    F
USA                                     1          0          0          1          2
MEX                                    1          0          1          1          3

MEX – Javier Hernández (Oribe Peralta)            10th minute
USA – Geoff Cameron (Michael Bradley)           15
MEX – Oribe Peralta (Paul Aguilar)                    96
USA – Bobby Wood (DeAndre Yedlin)              108
MEX – Paul Aguilar (Raul Jimenez)                   118 

Lineups:
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 23-Fabian Johnson (3-Brad Evans,111), 20-Geoff Cameron, 5-Matt Besler, 7-DaMarcus Beasley; 15-Kyler Beckerman, 13-Jermaine Jones, 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 9- Gyasi Zardes (2-DeAndre Yedlin, 78); 8-Clint Dempsey, 17-Jozy Altidore (11-Bobby Wood, 98)
Subs Not Used: 6-Tim Ream, 10-Danny Williams, 12-Tim Howard, 14-Ventura Alvarado, 16-Michael Orozco, 18-Chris Wondolowski, 19-Graham Zusi, 21-Jonathan Spector , 22-Nick Rimando
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

MEX: 12-Moises Muñoz; 22-Paul Aguilar, 15-Hector Moreno, 5-Diego Reyes, 7-Miguel Layun; 18-Andres Guardado (17-Javier Guemez, 80), 4-Rafa Marquez (capt.) (3-Arturo Rivas, 76) 16-Hector Herrera; 9-Raul Jimenez, 14-Javier Hernandez (10-Jesus Corona, 97), 19-Oribe Peralta
Subs Not Used: 1-Alfredo Talavera, 2-Israel Jimenez, 6-Jorge Torres Nilo, 8-Jonathan Dos Santos, 11-Carlos Vela, 20-Javier Aquino, 21-Carlos Esquivel, 23-Elias Hernandez
Head Coach: Ricardo Ferretti

Statistical Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 13 / 20
Shots on Goal: 5 / 10
Saves: 7 / 3
Corner Kicks: 1 / 6
Fouls: 14 / 17
Offside: 2 / 4 

Misconduct Summary:
MEX – Paul Aguilar (caution)                         21st minute
MEX – Oribe Peralta (caution)                       35
MEX – Hector Moreno (caution)                    43
USA – Kyle Beckerman (caution)                  52
USA – Michael Bradley (caution)                   87
MEX – Javier Guemez (caution)                    95 

Officials:
Referee: Joel Aguilar (SLV)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Zumba (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Leonel Leal (CRC)
Fourth Official: Marlin Mejia (SLV)