Mexico ended its seven-match winless streak against the United States with a convincing 2-0 victory at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Striker Raúl Jiménez opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a spectacular 30-yard free kick that found the top corner. He later assisted César Huerta in the 49th minute to secure the win.
This defeat marks Mauricio Pochettino’s first as head coach of the US men’s national team, coming just two games into his tenure. Key players such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, and Tim Weah were absent, and the substitutes struggled to make an impact.
“It wasn’t a great performance, but this type of game is perfect for us to learn,” Pochettino stated. “Overall, Mexico was a little bit better and fully deserved the victory. For us, it is a process. It was a great opportunity for our players to visit a very difficult place to play, and we can only improve from this experience.”
Pochettino had begun his tenure with a 2-0 win over Panama just days earlier. Looking ahead, he will lead the USMNT in his first competitive match during the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals in November.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s victory marks a significant improvement after the team faced criticism for a recent lackluster draw against a weakened Valencia side. Head coach Javier Aguirre noted that the team was determined to prove their capabilities after that disappointing performance.
The match also served as a touching farewell for Mexico captain Andrés Guardado, who played in his 182nd and final match for ‘El Tri.’ The 38-year-old received a warm ovation from fans as he was substituted in the 18th minute, symbolizing the end of an era for the national team
