U.S. Ties Mexico 2-2 in a "friendly game with the intensity of a qualifier"

by Pat Garcia | February 7, 2008 at 05:34 am

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A
sellout crowd of 70,103 watched as the men's national teams of Mexico
and the United States played out the latest installment of what has
become one of the best soccer rivalries this side of the globe.

Chant-screaming,
drum-beating diehard American fans stood shoulder-to-shoulder with
green-clad El Tri fanaticos sporting luchador masks to witness the 54th
meeting of regional powers in a showdown that, as always, was anything
but a friendly.

[q
url="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5520702.html"]And while
neither team was victorious, both won from their latest showdown,
getting their youngest of stars precious experience and playing time as
they prepare for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"We
gained experience against a very good team in an atmosphere that was
loud and great," Bradley said. "When we talk about big games and
understanding how to play in big games, I think tonight was an
excellent example."[/q]

[q
url="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080207/sp_afp/fblusamexfriendly_080207055928"]"This
is a moral win," Magallon said. "This was a closely marked game and
there wasn't a lot of free space so this is something we can build
on."[/q]

[q
url="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080207/sp_afp/fblusamexfriendly_080207055928"]"It
is a fair result," said American star Landon Donovan. "But we will kick
ourselves for giving up two set-piece goals."[/q]

[q
url="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/grant_wahl/02/07/us.mexico/index.html?section=si_latest"]Five
things we learned from a thoroughly entertaining 2-2 tie between the
U.S. and Mexico in Houston on Wednesday night:

1. The next generation has arrived.

This
game will be remembered as the coming-out party for a host of
tantalizing teens in North America's greatest international sports
rivalry. Jozy Altidore, the U.S.' rising 18-year-old phenom, scored on
a picture-perfect header in just his third appearance with the national
team (and his first against archrival Mexico). Altidore never looked
out of place going the entire 90 minutes -- and he clearly earned the
respect of Mexican star defender Rafa Márquez -- but Altidore wasn't
the only teenager who impressed. Mexico's Carlos Vela, 18, was a terror
down the left flank, and Gio Dos Santos, the 18-year-old Barcelona
starlet, was dangerous in all-too-limited time as a second-half sub.
For his part, 18-year-old Freddy Adu made less of a mark as a
second-half sub, but his elusive injury-time run did earn a last-ditch
free kick for the Yanks.[/q]

U.S. coach Bob Bradley spotted a glaring weakness as the Americans tied Mexico 2-2 in an exhibition game Wednesday night.

Jozy Altidore made his first start for the U.S. team and scored a go-ahead goal late in the first half. Oguchi Onyewu also had goal for the Americans, who twice blew leads but extended their home unbeaten streak against Mexico to 10 (8-0-2).

Bradley was worried by how much faster the Mexican team appeared.

''Against their pressure, our ability to play faster, connect faster, that's certainly something, an area we want to improve,'' Bradley said. ''I see a lot of things we must improve. Tonight, the main thing for me is the ability to play faster.''

Onyewu scored his third international goal in the 30th minute, but Magallon's first goal for Mexico tied it five minutes later. Altidore, playing just his third match with the national team, scored in the 40th only to have Magallon retie it in the 47th.

Mexico controlled the ball most of the match and outshot the Americans 13-3. U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard made six saves.

The fast-paced game was marked by physical play with the United States called for 19 fouls and Mexico whistled for 13.

''The teams played this 'friendly' with the intensity of a qualifier,'' Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez said in a bit of an exaggeration.

Jozy Altidore made his first start for the United States national team and scored a go-ahead goal late in the first half, but Jonny Magallon’s second goal of the game gave Mexico a 2-2 tie in an exhibition game Wednesday night.

Oguchi Onyewu also scored for the Americans, who twice blew leads but extended their home unbeaten streak against Mexico to 10 (8-0-2).