GLENDALE, Ariz. – Football friendlies are, by definition, trivial affairs. However, the US-Mexico entanglement is special under any circumstances.
And at the start of a new World Cup era, with nearly 3.5 years to expand and shape his roster, Mauricio Pochettino used Saturday’s 3-0 drubbing at State Farm Stadium to find out how his young Americans would fare in the cauldron of this wild regional rivalry.
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They met the moment of bruising.
In front of a near-capacity crowd disproportionately sporting the green of Mexico, the two 35-year-old strikers scored in each half as Pochettino’s second term continued their thrilling run with a third straight win.
Julian Hall, 18, became the first U.S. player to score in his first three games since Eddie Johnson 22 years ago, and Cavan Sullivan, who turned 17 on Monday, became the youngest goalscorer in U.S. history — breaking 17-year-old Mathis Albert’s record on Tuesday.
For the rest of the match, Mexican fans jeered their hapless goalkeeper.
20-year-old Diego Kochen went the distance on goal and made a superb reflex save when the USA were one man ahead.
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Malik Tillman, who scored twice in the World Cup, added a third for a defenseless Mexico team looking for its first win since the World Cup.
The Americans will close out the extended international window against Canada on Tuesday in St. Paul.
Pochettino’s squad selections were highly anticipated with one surprise: former Barcelona prospect Kochen, who made his debut in the second half of last weekend’s Peru match.
He gave a nod to World Cup starter Matt Freese in the window opener against Peru. He did nothing conspicuously wrong in the 4-1 win, but with Koche’s stock rising in US circles ahead of the 2028 Olympics, Pochettino wanted to test him in a tight match.
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Chris Richards and Auston Trusty manned the central defense, while Antonee Robinson and Alex Freeman were the wing-backs. Captain Tyler Adams and Sebastian Berhalter supported Gio Reyna and Tillman in midfield.
Cavan Sullivan celebrated his 17th birthday on Monday, then made USMNT history five days later against Mexico.
(Taylor Banner/USSF via Getty Images)
Sullivan was free on the right wing, looking to pair up with Hall, who won the striker’s job after posting two goals and one assist in 99 minutes across two matches (plus a nice dummy in the scoring sequence).
Under new coach Rafa Marquez, Mexico opened the window with 1-1 draws against Colombia and Peru. El Tri will conclude the camp against Chile on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
17-year-old star Gilberto Mora, who has been linked with interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool, was ruled out after injuring his ankle on Tuesday, dashing hopes of a teenage battle between Mora and Sullivan.
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Marquez started eight players who played at least 30 games. With the exception of rookie Santiago Sandoval, every starter was between the ages of 24 and 32. With his 128th cap, defender Jesús Gallardo has made more appearances than all seven US starters combined.
El Tri set the terms early. Kochen didn’t need to make any saves, but he had to play the ball with his feet under pressure from Mexico’s forwards.
Tillman sparked the U.S. early, making a solo run into the box that resulted in a pair of harmless corner kicks. Sullivan was frustrating and deceptive on the right flank, but for the most part the USA worked to maintain possession in the attacking half.
It all changed in the 28th minute when the Americans strung together 17 passes.
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Mexico was willing to let them interact harmlessly in midfield. Berhalter then seized the initiative, delivering a long ball to Freeman near the sideline. A channel opened up for Reyna to escape from a deep position. Freeman secured it.
Rushing inside the penalty area, Reyna passed the pass. Goalkeeper Raul Rangel struck it with his right foot but released the ball for Hall inside the 6-yard box.
Mexico came close to equalizing late in the half when Kochen pushed a cross into the legs of Santiago Gimenez, but the striker sent it into an open net.
In the minutes of the second half, Reyna and Tillman opened the Mexican defense with a great combination. Tillman backhanded into Reyna’s path for a cross that his teammate couldn’t reach.
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Kochen was first tested in the 58th minute, leaping to touch Roberto Alvarado’s shot over the crossbar.
Hall and Sullivan were about to be sent off when Sullivan scored – thanks in large part to Rangel, whose fearsome pass was intercepted by the Philadelphia Union star. Sullivan instinctively looked to shoot immediately, hitting the ball into the empty net from about 35 yards out.
He and Hall then left, as planned, to loud applause.
The disappointment of the Mexicans boiled over in the 67th minute. Substitute Mateo Chavez brought down Yunus Musa with a difficult play. Berhalter confronted Chavez, who responded by slapping him on both cheeks. A confrontation ensued – a common sight in the USA-Mexico match.
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In the 84th minute, Tillman added a third goal, beating weak defender Diego Campillo on a back pass in the box and beating Rangel at close range for his seventh international goal.
The Americans have scored 11 goals in those three wins — an impressive haul for veterans and up-and-coming prospects.
USMNT records
Defender Myles Robinson and goalkeeper Chris Brady did not suit up in line with Pochettino’s plans to field 26 players. …
According to sources, the US-Jamaica friendly scheduled for December 13 will initially be played in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The match will conclude a week-long US camp, primarily for MLS players, in the non-FIFA window.