U.S. MNT Extends Unbeaten Streak Against Mexico
Presented by AT&T, the U.S. Men’s National Team defeated archrival Mexico by a score line of 2-0 behind goals from Jordan Morris and Juan Agudelo in front of a sell-out crowd of 64,369.
The win extended the USA’s unbeaten streak against Mexico to a record six games (3-0-3), pushed the U.S. MNT’s current unbeaten streak on home soil to 21 games (18-0-3) and marked the ninth USA victory against Mexico by that familiar score line and eighth since 2000.
Twenty-year-old Morris, a sophomore at Stanford University, put the U.S. ahead after running onto a deflected ball and finishing under a sliding goalkeeper in the 49th minute.
In the 65th minute, Agudelo replaced Morris, and on a Michael Bradley assist doubled the American lead. It was Agudelo’s first appearance since he last came on as a sub in the U.S.’s game against Ukraine on March 5, 2014 and his first goal since he scored against Argentina on March 26, 2011.
The result pushed the USA’s all time record against Mexico to 18-32-14. The U.S. MNT will be in Europe next time it convenes, facing off with the world’s No. 6-ranked team, Netherlands, in Amsterdam on June 5. The match kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMas and Univision Deportes Network.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Morris, 49th Minute: Bradley played the ball into the middle of the Mexico defense to Gyasi Zardes whose return pass deflected off a Mexico defender into the stride of Morris. On his first MNT start, Morris took a touch and slotted a shot under sliding Mexico goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo for his first international goal. USA 1, MEX 0
USA – Agudelo (Bradley), 72nd minute: Minutes after entering for previous goal scorer Morris, Agudelo expertly brought down a long ball from Bradley at the top of the box. He cut to his right, got past his defender and blasted a shot that squeezed between Saucedo and the left post to double the USA lead. USA 2, MEX 0 (FINAL)
Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
MEX – Saucedo, 26th minute: Bradley played a dangerous free kick into the box where Zardes and Morris were converging. Saucedo jumped into traffic and was able to deflect the ball out of danger.
USA – Rimando (Save), 42nd minute: Mexico captain Luis Montes quickly brought the ball down from the right side. Near the top of the box Montes made a quick cut toward the center and hooked a left-footed shot towards the goal. The ball took one spinning hop before Rimando secured it.
USA – Yarbrough (Save), 58th minute: Erick Torres took a pass off of a Mexican counter and found himself in a spot with an opportunity to score, but he was unable to put a clean hit on the ball and Yarbrough simply scooped up the shot.
Milestone Watch:
•Bradley inched closer to the century cap mark with his 96th appearance tonight. The appearance pushed his him past Brian McBride and into a tie with Alexi Lalas for the 16th on the U.S. MNT’s all-time list.
•Bradley’s assist was the 13th of his USA career and ties him for eighth all-time alongside DaMarcus Beasley and Clint Dempsey.
•Ventura Alvarado and 20-year-old Morris made their first starts for the USA.
•In his first start, Morris scored his first international goal.
Next on the Schedule:
The U.S. MNT faces Netherlands, on June 5 at 2:30 p.m. ET at the Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
