Mexico 0, USA 0: World Cup qualifying match recap

MEXICO CITY — There were hairy moments, but a composed and collected US national team earned its second-ever World Cup qualifying point on Mexican soil with a 0-0 tie at the Estadio Azteca on Tuesday night.

The tie boosted the USMNT's record in the CONCACAF Hexagonal to 1-1-1 (4 pts.), while Mexico remained stuck on their third straight draw in three matches (0-0-3, 3 pts.).

CURRENT CONCACAF HEXAGONAL STANDINGS

The tie was only the second World Cup qualifying draw for the USA in Mexico (the previous a 0-0 draw in Nov. 1997) and lifted their record to 0-13-2 in World Cup qualifying matches in Mexico, 1-8-2 all-time at the Estadio Azteca and 1-23-2 all-time on Mexican soil. 

But Mexico will surely have their gripes on two penalty kick claims, the first coming early in the 13th minute when the assistant referee flagged a Michael Bradley off-the-ball push in the back of Mexico's Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, who was streaking into the penalty area. But referee Walter López ignored the signal and let play continue.

Mexico turned up the pressure shortly thereafter and the US were under siege for the next 15 minutes with wave after wave of Mexican attacks down the wings featuring Giovani dos Santos as the chief catalyst. El Tri will rue missing the mark on four headed chances by dos Santos (16th min.), Jesús Zavala (27th min.) and a pair by Hernández (21st and 29th mins.).

The effort seemed to take a lot out of Mexico, who lost their edge for the rest of the first half with two lengthy injury stoppages preventing them from building any momentum.

COMPLETE LINEUPS AND BOX SCORE

Mexico began the second half on the front foot but their crosses and shots missed the mark. The US were also helped by two defensive interventions by Omar Gonzalez, who snuffed out dangerous attacks with timely moves. Gonzalez and center back partner Matt Besler enjoyed composed, standout showings in the Azteca pressure cooker.

There were still more desperate stops for the US. In the 69th minute, it was Besler who saved a goal with a block on a Carlos Salcido shot destined for the net and, minutes later, Graham Zusi beat substitute forward Ángel Reyna to a header in the box. 

Reyna's insertion came for left back Jorge Torres Nilo, as left winger Andrés Guardado moved to left back in the most significant tactical shift of the second half by either team.

In the 76th minute, Mexico had a second legitimate penalty-kick appeal when Javier Aquino was ready to tee off on a pass in the box, only for Maurice Edu to challenge him from behind and clear the ball. The Mexicans vehemently protested with the referee to no avail, while Aquino eventually had to come off injured.

In a nervy ending to the match, Mexico found opportunities were few and far between, coming closest when Hernández just missed on connecting cleanly at the far post on a Reyna corner kick. 

OPTA Chalkboard: US bend, but don't break as Mexico push forward

USMNT boss Jurgen Klinsmann made two changes to the squad that beat Costa Rica 1-0 last Friday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park with Edu coming in for the injured Jermaine Jones (left ankle) and Besler filling in for Clarence Goodson, who suffered from a hamstring strain after the Costa Rica win but still made the 23-man roster.

Mexico made just one change with Diego Reyes slotting into the center back spot vacated by the suspended Francisco "Maza" Rodríguez.

The final result meant that Klinsmann also remained undefeated in seven all-time matches as a manager and player against Mexico.

Both sides will be back in CONCACAF Hexagonal action in June with three matches each between June 4 and June 18. Mexico are away to Jamaica (June 4), away to Panama (June 7) and home to Costa Rica (June 11). Meanwhile, the USA are also away to Jamaica (June 7) and home against Panama (June 11) and Honduras (June 18).

The US' next match is a friendly against Belgium in Cleveland on May 29, followed by another friendly against Klinsmann's native Germany on June 2 in Washington, D.C.

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