Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie both scored as the United States defeated Mexico 2-0 in a World Cup qualifying game in Cincinnati, Ohio on Friday night.
Pulisic put the United States in the lead minutes after coming off the bench with a sharp header and McKennie struck from close range shortly before full time to give the Americans a third straight victory over CONCACAF rivals the Mexico.
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The United States, now in first place in the CONCACAF qualifying standings thanks to a superior goal difference, beat Mexico 3-2 in the Nations League final last June and beat The Tri 1-0 in the decisive Gold Cup game two months later in the teams’ previous two meetings.
An entertaining 20-minute start-to-end opening saw both goalies called into action, Zack Steffen preventing a low drive from Hirving Lozano and Guillermo Ochoa smothering a distance shot from American Tim Weah.
The frenetic pace did not slow down in the first half, but neither Mexico nor the United States were able to find the back of the net as the teams entered the break stuck in a 0 draw. -0.
McKennie forced an Ochoa save in a lively start to the second half for the home team, smashing the ball over the frame after Weah picked him up high in the penalty area with a nice reduced pass.
McKennie, Steffen and Mexican Luis Rodriguez all received yellow cards after a crash involving Brenden Aaronson. The warning for McKennie means he will miss the United States’ game against Jamaica on Tuesday due to the yellow card buildup.
As the United States chased a goal, Gregg Berhalter brought in Pulisic minutes later for Aaronson as the Chelsea player made his first appearance for the Americans since leaving a September game against Honduras with an injury. at the ankle.
The move was a brilliant one for the United States as Pulisic rose to meet a precise cross from Weah just inside the six-yard penalty area and passed Ochoa to give the hosts a lead of 1- 0.
Nice interaction from the United States led to his second goal as the ball fell on McKennie inside the penalty area and he made no mistakes with only Ochoa to beat to double the lead.
Miles Robinson was awarded a second yellow of the game late in the game, leaving the United States to finish the game with 10 men and meaning the Atlanta United defender will also be unavailable against Jamaica.
The United States have 14 points in seven games midway through CONCACAF’s qualifying process for the Octagonal World Cup, tied on points with Mexico but ahead on goal difference.
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