April 20 – Mexico and the USA shared the honours in a 1-1 draw in Glendale, Arizona in the inaugural Continental Clasico.
It was the 75th time these two nations have met. This match served as a warm-up for bigger challenges this summer with the two Concacaf giants set to meet in the semi-final of the Nations League in Las Vegas on June 15, before the Gold Cup kicks off June 24.
It was a game where much of the pre-match talk was about whether Mexican fans would behave themselves and stop their anti-homosexual ‘puto’ chant when the opposition goalkeeper is taking a goal kick.
Pre-match both team’s captains read out statements of inclusivity. In the end the fears were unfounded as the match passed off without major incident.
Indeed it was almost a match without any incident. The first half was played at a good pace but neither team were able to control the game and neither looked capable of scoring.
Both managers would have been concerned, both are newcomers to the hotseat post the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Anthony Hudson is the stand-in manager of the US while the federation conducts what has become a long and drawn out recruitment process, Diego Cocca took over Mexico on a deal until 2026 following the exit of Gerardo Martino.
It was Cocca’s team who broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute. A horrible mistake on half way by US central defender Aaron Long saw the ball given away to Uriel Antuna who drove towards the US goal and fired past US keeper Sean Johnson’s near post.
Hudson made changes and on 81 minutes the US equalised through a counter attack that was easily the most exciting move of the game.
Mexico, pressing the US goal, saw a shot cannon off the cross bar. Sergino Dest picked up the ball and drove through into the heart of the Mexican midfield before finding substitute Alan Sonora who fed Jordan Morris on the left wing. Morris drove the ball low across the Mexican box for and incoming Jesus Ferreira to push past a diving Carlos Lopez in the Mexican goal.
Mexico will feel that this was a match lost and have now gone five games without a win against the US. Hostilities will be resumed in Las Vegas June 15 in the Nations League semi-final. Both teams will have a fuller complement of their European-based stars for that one.
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