The United States men’s national team triumphed 2-0 against North American rivals Mexico on Friday night to become leaders of the Concacaf 2022 World Cup qualifying table with 14 points.
The US side held their own during the first 45 minutes of the match before making the necessary impact during the second half.
Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic came on as a substitute in the 59th minute, becoming an instant threat to Mexico. He was only on the pitch for five minutes before combining with Tim Weah and finding the back of the net to score the game’s first goal.
Juventus player Weston McKennie then sealed the victory in the 85th minute by firing off a low, clinical finish past Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and into the net.
“It was incredible, and the fans made it all that much better,” said Pulisic after the game.
“They really came out tonight. It was so loud in there. Moments like that are what we live for. It was a crazy game for sure but it’s what we expected. It was tough to break them down. I’m happy I could come in and help us out. In the end, that’s three huge points.”
This is the third consecutive time the USMNT has defeated Mexico in 2021 after the Nations League and Gold Cup final victories. They have not managed a 3-0 record against their North American rivals since the mid-2000s.
"They understand what we're about and we understand what they're about," Pulisic continued.
"That's what makes a great rivalry, and I'm just really happy that we could come out on top again tonight. We knew it was always going to be a good game against Mexico, and to get three points just helps us get a lot closer to qualifying for the World Cup."
The American side now leads the Concacaf table, tying with Mexico on points but surpassing their rivals on goal difference.
They travel to Jamaica on Tuesday as the World Cup qualifiers continue.
Source : 90min