Mauricio Pochettino faced his first defeat on only his second game at the helm of the United States national team on Tuesday as his team was defeated 2-0 by Mexico in a friendly match in Guadalajara.
The first goal was scored by Raul Jimenez in the first half with a remarkable long-range free kick that went over the U.S. wall and into the top-right corner, much to the delight of the fans at Estadio Akron. ‘El Tri’ gained control of the game early in the second half when Cesar Huerta quickly shot past U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner after the ball fell in front of the goal.
This victory was much needed for Mexico, who were booed by fans after a disappointing 2-2 draw in a friendly against an under-strength Valencia last weekend. The U.S., who won against Panama in Pochettino’s debut on Saturday, had a shortage of firepower with players like Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, and Weston McKennie not making the trip to Mexico and instead returning to their club teams.
Despite these absences, the U.S. gave an uninspired and passive performance, with only one shot on target and their seven-match unbeaten streak against their fierce rivals coming to an end. Pochettino mentioned that the U.S. started off strong, but the game changed after Mexico’s first goal. He also stated that although it wasn’t a great performance, this type of game is a learning opportunity for the team.
The emotional highlight of the match was the farewell of Mexico’s most-capped player, Andres Guardado, who received a standing ovation from the crowd when he was substituted early in the first half, earning his 182nd cap.
