Read More: mexico vs usa, usa vs mexico, usa vs mexico 2011, mexico vs usa 2011, Andres Guardado (MIDFIELDER – Mexico), Brek Shea (MIDFIELDER – DAL), Mexico, United States
Yes, exhibitiony is a word. It’s a new adjective that I made up. In a competitive fixture, the USA-Mexico match would have followed a much different pattern. Jurgen Klinsmann wouldn’t have used such an experimental lineup, both teams would have had more logical substitution patters, and Mexico wouldn’t have quit after 60 minutes. Instead, none of those things happened as the United States and Mexico drew 1-1 in an odd international friendly that will have Klinsmann on the good side of most USMNT fans for the time being.
The opening goal was scored in the first half by Oribe Peralta, and it was a great one. Following a set piece, Andres Guardado swung in a cross towards Peralta, who was well marked by Michael Bradley. However, Peralta found away to get his boot to the ball, hitting it past Tim Howard to give Mexico a lead.
It was a poor first half for the USMNT and they became more and more negative as the half progressed. They failed to register a single shot on goal, Jose Torres looked out of place out wide, and Edson Buddle was poor.
Eventually, well into the second half, Klinsmann made some substitutions that changed the game. He brought in Brek Shea and Robbie Rogers – substitutions that moved Landon Donovan and Torres to the inside of the pitch – and those moves worked wonders. In the 73rd minute, Shea got to the byline with a great run and sent a cross across the face of goal that missed everyone and got through to the back post. Rogers was waiting and tapped it in, giving the United States their equalizer.
The USMNT did a much better job of passing the ball from when Torres was moved inside until the end of the game. He looked lost throughout the match on the left, but was fantastic in the final 30 minutes of the game. The move to bring in Shea was Klinsmann’s best of the night, and it might have him considering playing Shea on the left and Torres in the center in future matches.
This was a friendly match, and therefore, the result didn’t matter. Yes, even against Mexico, the result didn’t matter. What did matter, however, is the useful information that Klinsmann gained by playing different players in different positions. With one game under his belt and more European based players available for Klinsmann’s next match, the pressure will be cranked up for the next match against Belgium in September.
