The US trots out the same players now for a trio of games. A quartet of past Red Bulls on the Roster, one from NYCFC another from Blaus Weis Gotschee. In a record, the US have not lost to El Tri in half a dozen games. So much smoke in the indoor venue from the pre game fireworks. The ball gets to the Mexico GK, his kick won by the US, now into the US area. Freeman and Ream collide and a foul on Mexico. These things are not to be happening after a month or so together, be vocal call the ball. Mexico presses, forcing a long ball out by the US and Mexico has it. Patrick fouled and early less than 3’ in, he remains down. The restart from Berhalter to Richards Little things matter, as the USMNT ran out for warm ups, on the touchline you had Adams leading out with Ream very near, but inside down the middle ahead of all was Richards. In pregame it was stated that coach is looking for players to trust now and next summer? Next summer most will be in the stands, not the bench, I do not see 5 making the cut. The Power Top Five of Lalas, Luna yes, Tillman yes, has been on the full NT roster before, Richards having a great tourney however Agyemang and Berhalter, I just do not see it. If Patrick was filling up the goal for his shortcomings, I could see it. Freese has acquitted himself well, with a slight admitted bias, more of one relative to McGlynn who I do not think has gotten enough time to really evaluate, ditto for Tolkin. But please do not mistake these games to be anywhere near the level they must be up for come the World Cup in less than a year. The Mexican team, arms over shoulders all singing fully opening their mouth’s and belting it out, we shall see how their counterparts do in their own nation. Hands over their hearts, Most, not all at least giving it lip service…
has been ruled a goal at 4’ it was off the woodwork. A dream start, the replay does not clearly show all of the ball being over the goal line. Richards leaned back to get to that ball, the camera was not right on the line so it was not clear. It stands. Richards now has a pair over these games. Patrick bumped ball shakes loose Berhalter rides his player to the ground and called for it. Patrick fouled and Mexico then plays the ball away, no card issued, it has already begun. Again the press is on and now Patrick fouled again, seems, every other minute but no call, US called for one. In tight spaces, Mexico moves the ball well, Tillman in a physical play but it is a throw for Mexico. A long clear leads to a US throw as it goes over the touchline. Mexico with a pass near midfield goes out of touch, Richards steps up and heads a ball away the US holds getting forward Tillman into the area played away a bit fought for by Patrickm Mexico has it. Across their backline in their defensive half. Over the half near the US area a bit back and now near endline into the area played out by Tillman in successive plays, Berhalter & Patrick put to the ground, no whistles. Alvarado with a ball in to Freese, he covers it up, no issue. Richards looks to control a ball he should have played out, Ream does so. Mexico below the area now back below it again, Alvarado and Freese gets the deflected effort into the 6. De La Torre gets fancy and loses it. Patrick wholly hacked to the floor yet again. If these are called, surely a caution issued for persistent infringement. Mexico with a ball in but Freese has it, comes up firing for Patrick, intercepted. Mexico holds in the neutral third, now into the area, Richards heads out to Tillman and it is lost for a throw again in the neutral third. Freeman with a clearance leads to a corner. The player goes down, no chance on a call there. Just beyond the 6, Patrick nods it clear, sent in US blocks it and Mexico has it at midfield. The US are defending high up not really pressing, a high ball in goes out for a Freese goal kick. Berhalter with a first time try into the area was off on both. Luna called for a foul far from but about as deep as the center circle. Freeman blocks a dangerous ball in for a corner at 24’. Mora from the short corner sends in a decent effort at Freese, he is more than up to the challenge. Patrick sought on a ball to the endline US wins a corner and it is cleared Mexico near midfield with it now. Ruiz drops it and the US clear it from the top of the area. Back in and put into the area partially cleared by the US. The US have not had much of the ball of late, lots more work to defend and more looks by your opponent. Ruiz for Jimenez, he spins and shoots upper net it is now all even at 26’. A Diogo shirt at his feet as he sits on the field. A big collision in the US area is called for a throw. A player spun to the ground, no call. Could it be over a dozen passes not with the US challenging even one. A second time into the area and now a goal kick should relieve some pressure. Freeman with a ball out of the area taken by Mexico and other ball knocked away gained by Mexico and again. Berhalter knocks it away Mexico gets it back. Mexico endline Ream then Berhalter head it and how Mexico holds. The passes are again in the double digits for Mexico. Again, a few times the US is knocking the ball loose but not holding it including a shot in on Freese. Luna fouled, he returns the favor and is called with some waving by the ref. Tillman on goal then stays away from four defenders now it is their defensive end. That ball had to get on goal, push forward and take the shot. The US is holding but no Oles being called out with less than 10 to play in the first half. In the neutral zone in their half of the field the US pass around. Berlhalter seeking Patrick, wins a throw, he was the far side of the player, not the ball to play in. Mora from outside the area and the 16 year old has his shot deflected then out for a corner by Freese. Through the area and now a corner from the other side as a back pass was redirected over the endline. Richards heads it out, Mexico go endline and defended out for another corner by Freeman. Arfsten heads it out Mexico recovers and Ruiz well wide and high of goal. It is an 8-1 advantage in shots to Mexico. Patrick again manhandled and the US get the DFK. Tyler to Patrick he is tripped up and a caution issued at 44’, just beyond the area near the touchline. Berhalter over the ball a one man wall with confusion. Near the top of the 6, headed back to the bottom of the circle, the US holds goes back further now Freeman nods a ball along but it goes wide, De La Torre has it Freeman loses it Luna with a shot, leans back and it is high and over the bar.
This late flurry should have the US charged up to start the 2nd half. So may good looks in the extra time but nothing to show for it, they must put those away. Mexico great possession time wise but not doing much with it, a number of corners but not much more.
Richards turns away a ball but Mexico recovers Another Mexico ball into the 6, headed away. Gallardo with a player in the 6, plays it in and off the shin of Richards, this in less than 5’, not the momentum they had built at the very end of the half. Great steal leaves the defense a bit niaked, Alvarado takes it and is just wide on his effort. Too much in the middle, 3 on Tyler and it lost, now outside for Mexico, broken up and they recover, Mora finds Guilardo with Freeman winning the battle and Berhlater gathers it up and Mexico has it again at the half. The Newly rolled out field is not holding up and Tillman goes down in a heap, this will only get worse. Mexico is pressing all over now and the US is not dealing with it well. Now all the way across the field for the US with a number of passes and a great long distance shot by Arfsten just wide of the far corner, replay shows it being well off. Ruiz must want the shirt of Tillman for all the pulling on it? Gallardo mishits a clear and Mexico wins it back to the GK of USA, Freese sends it forward to a dark shirt. Alvarado from Alvarez near the endline gets help who gets the ball into the area and Frees bats it away, it had been deflected but better over the endline than over the goal line. Adams blocks Vasquez, he regains it now into the 6, Freese knocks it down then recovers it, Vega was so open. At 57’ it is noted players look tired subs usually come at the hour mark and Poch has been wont to sub early, this may cost them. Luna at the back line wins a ball and Tillman suffers a hard kick. The US is absorbing a lot of pressure, it is not sustainable, subs may be the answer, better defending, then breaking the press is as well. Patrick fouled again when does all this become a card? Tillman gets taken down he then slides into another of El Tri. Far back by El Tri, no white shirts get up on the ball. Players being left open and they are getting the ball for Mexico. Nowhere near enough off the ball movement by the US as they bring the ball forward. Adams cautioned at 63’. Well deserved for a very late foul. Just mentioned is how Poch is late to going to his bench and a few local players are mentioned in McGlynn from Queens and Aaronson of NJ. Corner #8 for Mexico, a lot for just one goal. Richards plays it out for another. Two players holding Berhalter as he walks forward. Vega long on his ball in. That clip with Berhalter is sure to be a meme. A pair of fouls on Tillman, he holds and gets it off to the next side of the field. VAR checking a play as the game continues. Vega outside, endline Freeman gives up corner 10. There was a handball I need a better look. Richards again to it first heads it beyond the circle for Mexico to get it Alvarado, again Richards saves the day now for a deep throw, Vega on the endline, Adams partial clearance. Downs who turns 21 today is coming on, out goes De La Torre at 69”. Ream sends the Jimenez effort out of touch. Tyler runs a ball won and Mexco has another corner. Vega finds his man but falling back as he heads it just wide. Kicked from behind US has a DFK, just beyond the area. Ruiz taken out by Tillman and it is blown down. Now a player goes to tie his shoe in a delay tactic. Alvarado from Jimenez, he has it on the way out US has it then loses it regaining it on a throw, Tillman now nursing his right leg, before it was his left he and Patrick have been huge targets today. Arfsten for Downs and his ball is out. Mora out and Pineda in for Mexico. Vega, top of the area drops it and Berhalter tackles it away recovered Vega for Jimenez at the endline Luna with a foul at the touchline deep in the US end. Maybe 15 yards from the end and a few off the touchline a dangerous kick, offside goal. Now to VAR. The goal stands an off center camera showed it to be onside. Alvarez with a great effort, a diving header. The US is going to throw everything at the goal as McGlynn awaits entry, he has been getting many goals in club play a few from quite a distance. Tillman to Patrick he cannot beat a trio, the US holds. Back a bit now Luna getting the ball a lot, it is lost as Jimenez steals it and Adams fouls. Adams is out. Berhalter beaten to the endline, Downs heads it clear. Big turnover as we see the crowd and Alvarado is wide. Tolikin and Aaronson due in but getting barely 5’. Patrick with a great effort back to him and slide tackle takes it and again a Mexican player is down. Jimenez gets cautioned. Bimenez in Jimenez out. Huerta in as Sanchez is out. Tolkin & Brendan in as Luna is out. Downs blocked in close. Alvarado out for Huerta. Aaronson taken down and it is whistled and Bimenez has a finger pointing the wrong way. Freeman taken down hard by Gallardo. Extra time will be in the amount of 7’. McGlynn easy to Tillman gets it back, his effort is blocked. Ream for Patrick and a great look, no idea how that did not get into the back of the net, Tillman the target, Patrick keeps it and cannot reel it in as Tillman defers. End to end action. Tolkin from Berhalter he loses it now across the field by Mexico, US presses, win a throw. Richards to McGlynn now for Tolkin he goes to ground, Ream has it. US passing but laterally. No urgency hear and it is lost to Vega. DFK Mexico well in their offensive third and near the touchline, the win a throw now. Berhalter loses footing and Frees has it. Freeman loses it at the top of the area and Mexico has a throw. Last minute Mexico goes endline and a corner for Mexico. Little passes by the US with so little time? The ball is lost and US have a throw and go back, then to GK Ream long ball for Downs Aaronson gets it, game over.