USA v Mexico: Concacaf League of Nations Semi Final
US goes from the opening kick to the top of the area, lose it for a moment then regain the ball. Here they are again at 45 seconds, a ball too far is sent into the area and goes out of touch. A loud crowd and excellent energy out of the home team should make for a great chance. Weah looking for Pulisic, yes, 2 with great NY ties, it take a bounce from just beyond the area above him into the hands of Ochoa. Turner comes up huge at 3 minutes knocking a ball away, boxing may have been better but it gets the job done at 8 yards getting it away from his opponent. At 10’ Mexico with a good chance in the area, rather than shoot, a pass is made to nobody but a white shirt wearing USA player. Forty yards in the air for Mexico and 10 yards offside. Mexico again in the area look to square It, Musah, another New Yorker, gets it out of there. Lead pass from Reyna well off and it is picked off, the ball stays in the attacking 3rd, finds its way to the feet of Ochoa. Balogun fouled, US has it well forward, ref blows whistle, I am thinking advantage, he is think foul on the player put to the ground, just got Concacafed. Guzman pulls the attacking player to the floor before entering the center circle. On the restart, another foul this one in the circle, an early yellow possibly for persistent infringement due for El Tri? From the top of the arc, another errant pass by Mexico as it bounds out of play. Reyna springs forward fed by Weah it misses 2 marks as it goes through the area, now a corner. A trio of US players with 5 chances and not a shot? They did however win a corner. Reyna over the ball, it is too low and short as it is cleared but the US again recovers the ball. Pulisic beats his man, into the area with a poor pass. Light pressure allows Mexico to complete a number of passes but a long ball with no pressure is too long and out for a US throw. Pulisic beats the defender gets the GK out of position on a 40 yard run and skies it, toe down? The best chance comes at 24’, if this remains the case, they will be far and few between, this miss may loom large in the final score from Vegas. Just a few hours ago we were in the hometown of his father, Centereach gathering items for those with less. Pulisic, fouled again, the whole back of his shirt is now green as well as a bit of the front. Less than 30 yards out, a DFK Ochoa sets his wall as Pulisic is over the ball, I expected it to be on goal. A not even worm burner of an attempt on the ground seeking the far low corner had no much behind it and easily covered. High press by the US causes a few passes in the back then one out of play. Not sure if they are trying to isolate Reyna but he has been right, left and center. Another corner for the US. None of these corners played into the middle have done much, will a runner come out for it short? Into the area and off the head of a green clad player. In his attacking 3rd, Musah lunges in getting the player and giving up a kick, foolish, keep it deep near the goal. Weah uses his speed to get to it plays it into the area but too high for his target man. The US with the better of play over the first half hour have nothing to show for it, when they lose the ball, they get it back rather quickly and have been far more dangerous. Yellow at 34’ for a foul, a great American football tackle in fact. From a difficult angle, Pulisic redeems himself at 37’. The ball entered the area, a pair of his teammates went for it, Reyna went down, now the goal getter is in conversation with the ref? Slide tackle by a white blonde Reyna sends a player airborne but no whistle. Reyna gets it as he enters the area does nothing, then shoots and of course the defender recovered to block it away, faster play please?
At 42’ Mexico with a corner., Robinson plays it out of danger and out of play. Robinson with another block as it goes over the end line, another corner for El Tri. Robinson, taken down from behind and US kick coming. Weah takes a boot to the chest he remains down but will rise.
Taking shots would be I say the biggest area of improvement needed for the USA. They held it well defended, found the open man, supported on D. A few balls played in did not find a player but were put in well.
Here we go the last 45. Mexico presses so Pulsic gets a brace at the 46’, from, a great pass by Weah, this ball went down the far touchline, to the GK, up the next, then played in. A push on Robinson as he gives yet another corner, none were poorly done on his part. They are speaking too fast for me to make out most of what is being said in Spanish, but Dempsey and McBride were just mentioned with Pulisic, he and Brian are 2nd generation pros with parents who were involved as indoor coaches with Marc Pulisic also playing pro indoor soccer as Pat McBride played outdoor. Reyna, a 3rd generation pro and his mom also having played at a very high level, Pulisic’s also played D1 soccer here and of Weah with his father and cousins in MLS. Dike with siblings who were with the Nigerian National teams. Pulisic takes a high ball from Reyna, trys to go over the top, not so easy on Memo. The ball goes stuck under the feet of Turner but he is able to play it away. Reyna up for a head ball takes a shoulder from the opponent and is bleeding, no red? There is blood on the tip of his nose and forehead. Waiting on a replay as it seemed the player made an attempt on the ball but did get his shoulder in. Reyna back in, fouled hypes the crowd and Reyes is cautioned, a pair of yellows for pushing, hey US you have a semi to look forward to on Sunday. DFK, Reyna sails it high over the goal. Mexican defender writhing in pain on the floor Balogun did turn his back into him to avoid contact as he cleared it away. His sock has a big hole, more than likely from a cleat of Balogun. Robinson carded as he goes up and the opponent goes down, still holding his ear. The DFK goes near post with 2 of their players, but skips wide. Just heard the name of our friend, the late great Fernando Clavijo. Antuna from behind put down by Reyna for a foul. A red card, lots of pushing McKinnie has his shirt all but ripped off his body, kisses the crest as he walks away. Montes swiped the feet from Balogun, McKennie throws a player to the ground by the neck as 4 close in around him. Mckennie was just tossed as he should have been, the AR was just called onto assist the center. Moments ago I noted the US has another game to play, now they get that game without Mckennie. De La Torre in for Reyna, Pepi for Weah who is being shown off by a Mexican player. Herrara fouled by Robinson who does not believe it, I don’t believe he kicked him 8 yards from the endline 5 beyond the area. Not pulling the trigger a few times, the shot by Mexico goes floating wide, the press almost paid off for them this time. Will the final be the familiar Dos A Zero. NO! Pepi gets one at 78’, another 2nd generation player. He worked the angle and was onside but got in front of the defender as the ball was played. Zimmerman and Arronson await entering as Miles Robinson is out for Walker and now Weah. Zimmerman first touch, first foul. Here, there is some noise local for Sean Nealis to get a call into USMNT camp and compete for his position. Great no call on the penalty but poor one on the sliding tackle of Del La Torre. Dest pushed 2x, retaliates once and is tossed, Ochoa a peacekeeper is carded Areaga went to the face first then so did Dest. This will haunt them come Sunday. Scally of Lake Grove is entering the match, great NY representation, he is on for Pulisic who was just cautioned, he is going back at the ref, why? This lack of discipline is cause for concern, this is not having an edge, it is not having control. Could 2 coaches is so short order cause this? I can’t imagine at 89’ how much extra time there will be? You can clearly see the laser pointers doting players and refs alike. Now due to discriminatory chants, the game has been stopped. Seems 2 fans have been tossed and a stream of Mexican shirt wearing fans are leaving early. We are back on with 12’ of extra time. Del La Torre dances around the ball on the touchline plays into it and wins a corner, played short to kill time with 8’ to go? The ball is lost. Now with a handful of times to clear it out of danger, each fail and they give up a deep throw. Still with the bad chants and lasers on Turner as he kicks the ball upfield. A Goal Kick met with chants and it is game over. US won but lost a few for the next game.
Though they did not score any, Mexico may have achieved one of their goals today, helping to prevent the US from taking the title in this new tourney.