Bocanegra barely avoids a second yellow on a foul on Dos Santos in midfield. Dos Santos did go down pretty easy again. An uncharacteristic give away in midfield by Feilhaber gives Mexico a corner, sent out for another. The second corner resulted in a header popped up for Howard. Altidore and Magallon are getting into it now as they traded fouls. The one on Altidore was called, while Magallon's was not. I'm starting to think this referee is Mexican. Waiting for a red card on Michael Bradley for making eye contact. In another show of poor reffing, Onyewu picked up the ball after he was fouled and two Mexican players attempted to rip it away from him. The ref calls nothing despite the shoving.
In the 82nd now as Mexico gets the ball in the box, one shot is blocked by DeMerit, but the rebound goes to Sabah and now Mexico is up 2-1.
Onyewu has been strong all match, but he dropped back into goal on that play, rather than block off Sabah on the rebound. Tough to blame it on Gooch though as he was getting back to the goal when DeMerit made his block. USA needs a miracle, but the refs seem unlikely to allow it as they call a foul anytime a Mexican finds the weight of gravity to be too much to stay standing.
If the US score to draw level, it would destroy the Mexicans and could prevent their qualification for the World Cup. It might be time to admit desperation and send Onyewu up as a target forward. USA gets a corner and Donovan gets pelted with cups and bottles. Keep it classy Mexico.
USA gets the ball in the box again, but are not able to play Altidore, Dempsey, or Holden on goal. Ball goes out for a goal kick.
Wait, so how many CONCAF teams get into World Cup? As of right now US are in 3rd after the loss 2 pts behind Costa Rica & Mexico. I missed the 1st half but I was kinda disappointed Altidore didn't start after seeing what him and Davies could do in the Confederation Cup.
Game over. Mexico wins 2-1. USA goes to 0-23-1 in Mexico. USA remains in second in CONCACAF Qualifying while Mexico moves one point back into third. Honduras hosts Costa Rica tonight and with a win, Los Catrachos will draw level with the US. USA hosts El Salvador (9/5) and Costa Rica (10/14) and travels to Trinidad (9/9) and Honduras (10/10). The US have not lost a home qualifier since September 1, 2001 against Honduras. Mexico goes to Costa Rica and hosts Honduras in September, then host El Salvador and go to Trinidad in October. I don't like the trips for the US, particularly Honduras as the US always struggle in Central America. Costa Rica look likely to win qualifying, and could almost clinch it if they win tonight at Honduras. Trinidad looks like a potential slip up match as they have recently granted citizenship to Bobby Zamora and Jlloyd Samuel. Zamora and Kenwyne Jones are instantly one of the top forward combos in CONCACAF. Zamora and Samuel make their Trinidad debuts tonight.
My overall thoughts on the match is that this was as good as any opportunity the US has had to win in the Azteca. There were a few questionable choices by Bradley. Why not go with Davies and Altidore up top? I know Ching has the experience, but he hasn't shown anything for the US in a while. Then, why remove Davies for Altidore? I know he took the free kick to the chest, but he should have stayed out there if it was at all possible. Dempsey was doing nothing anyway and Davies was a threat all over.
3.5 make it. Three are in automatically and the fourth plays the fifth place team from COMEBOL. I'm not worried about the US making it as they should win or draw their remaining four matches. Mexico could end up fourth as Trinidad could be a huge slip up for them, but today's win gives them great momentum. Ecuador is currently fifth in COMEBOL, while Uruguay, Colombia, and Venezuela are within three.
