The names, faces and circumstances change, but USA-Mexico still smolders after all these years.
The US national team edged their border rivals 1-0 at Nashville's Nissan Stadium Tuesday night, overcoming a ragged first-half performance and making the most of an El Tri red card as New York Red BullsHomegrown midfielder Tyler Adams sidefooted home a calm winner some 20 minutes before full time.
The hosts were comfortably second-best for much of the game's opening stages, but a lively Mexico side failed to convert their superiority into goals. Just when the occasion looked to be petering out midway through the second half, a confrontation between Matt Miazga and Diego Lainez sparked it back to life, and moments later Angel Zaldivar was shown a straight red card for a studs-up collision with Wil Trapp to put El Tri down a man.
Shortly thereafter Adams made a late run into the penalty area and met Antonee Robinson's low cross, a fitting game-winner from a New York native on the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Goals
- 71' – USA – Tyler Adams | WATCH
Three Things
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: Adams' goal was tidy, but the Miazga-Lainez faceoff, prompted by some seemingly mild jersey-tugging, was the flashpoint that made this match memorable.
Next Up
- USA: Thursday, October 11 vs. Colombia (7:30 pm ET | FS1, UniMás, UDN - TV & streaming info)