The United States men’s national soccer team resumes 2018 World Cup qualifying Sunday night against the toughest opponent and venue in CONCACAF: Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.
Team USA is coming off an impressive 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in a WC qualifying game on Thursday. Rising star Christian Pulisic scored twice, and the Americans will need another quality performance from the 18-year-old to have any chance of defeating their archrival.
Mexico leads CONCACAF qualifying standings with 13 points through five games. The U.S. is third with seven points from five games. The top three in the group advance to the 2018 World Cup in Russia next summer.
Follow USA vs. Mexico with our live blog for score updates, analysis and highlights.
FINAL, 1-1
Team USA picks up a massively important point in 2018 World Cup qualifying, but Mexico still leads the CONCACAF standings with 14 points through six games. Michael Bradley (USA) and Carlos Vela (MEX) scored the goals, both in the first half.
90th minute, 1-1: Mexico has its ninth corner kick of the game, and we’re 30 seconds past the three-minute allotment of stoppage time.
90th minute, 1-1: We’re into stoppage time. There will be three minutes of added play.
Christian Pulisic has come off as part of the U.S.’ final sub. Graham Zusi replaced the 18-year-old star.
88th minute, 1-1: Christian Pulisic, who’s had a relatively quiet evening, just did well to create a shot from about 25 yards out, but he failed to hit the target. It might be the last great scoring chance for the U.S.
79th minute, 1-1: Another sub for Team USA.
Jozy Altidore is now on for the #USMNT. Bobby Wood comes off.
11 minutes remaining. #USAvMEX
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2017
77th minute, 1-1: The last change for Mexico.
Mexico makes their final sub. Jonathan Dos Santos comes off, Pineda on. #USAvMEX
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2017
74th minute, 1-1: Michael Bradley nearly scored another long-range goal, but the ball hit off the post and went out for a Mexico goal kick.
71st minute, 1-1: Mexico nearly took the lead on a free kick from more than 30 yards out. Hector Herrera’s shot dipped quite a bit but the ball hit the crossbar and stayed out.
#2T 70’ MEX 1-1 USA ¡@HHerreramex reventó el travesaño! 😱
Sigue vibrando la portería…#ElFutbolEsNuestro pic.twitter.com/escF0ReVkb
— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) June 12, 2017
70th minute, 1-1: The U.S. actually looks like the better-conditioned team, and it’s controlling more possession as a result. Michael Bradley nearly hit DeAndre Yedlin with a long ball over the top of Mexico’s back line.
The Mexican crowd is unusually quiet, too.
64th minute, 1-1: U.S. manager Bruce Arena has made his first substitution.
First #USMNT sub of the evening comes in the 64th minute with the score still even at 1-1!
➡️ @darlingtonnagbe
⬅️ @PaulArriola— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 12, 2017
56th minute, 1-1: Paul Arriola has become the second U.S. player given a yellow card.
53rd minute, 1-1: Another sub for Mexico.
Marco Fabian makes his way off the field. Aquino on in his place. #USAvMEX
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2017
46th minute, 1-1: The second half is underway!
Halftime, 1-1
44th minute, 1-1: Team USA’s DeAndre Yedlin picked up a yellow card for a foul on Javier Hernandez. He’s the first player to be booked tonight.
38th minute, 1-1: The cart came out for an injured DaMarcus Beasley. He went off to the side and left the action as medical personnel attended to him. He’s now back on the field but clearly isn’t at 100 percent.
31st minute, 1-1: Mexico already has made a change.
Early sub for Mexico as Alanis comes off. Gallardo replaces him. #USAvMEX
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2017
23rd minute, 1-1: Mexico has equalized thanks to a fantastic left-footed shot from just outside the box by Carlos Vela. Brad Guzan dove, but the shot had too much power and accuracy.
Carlos Vela has equalized for Mexico! Game. On. #USAvMEX https://t.co/TESnWekp5I
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2017
20th minute, 1-0 USA: Javier Hernandez finds space in the U.S. back line, stays onside but is unable to score on American goalkeeper Brad Guzan as his chip sails wide of the post. A great chance for Mexico, though. There was a collision between Hernandez and Guzan, too, but both players seem fine.
#1T 19’ MEX 0-1 USA Chicharitoooo… ¡Ceeeerca, @CH14_!
¡No dejamos de buscar el del empate!#ElFutbolEsNuestro pic.twitter.com/oi6faAx2JZ— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) June 12, 2017
19th minute, 1-0 USA: Mexico has the edge in possession and quality chances since Bradley’s goal, but it hasn’t been able to break through. The U.S. is doing a great job defending the flanks and limiting dangerous crosses into the penalty box.
6th minute, 1-0 USA: American midfielder and captain Michael Bradley has scored his fourth career goal versus Mexico, and this one will be tough to top. Bradley caught Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa too far off his line and fired a perfect long shot to open the scoring.
Stunning!#MEXvUSA pic.twitter.com/iW69UbZ1no
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) June 12, 2017
5th minute, 0-0: Carlos Salcedo fouled U.S. fullback DaMarcus Beasley with a forearm but surprisingly, no yellow card was given. It’s been a very physical start.
1st minute, 0-0: We’re underway!
8:30 p.m.: U.S. fans have traveled well for this game.
Has to be the largest group of traveling #USMNT supporters I have seen at Azteca. You can hear their chants, until El Tri fans get going. pic.twitter.com/y5MyS9ljUH
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) June 12, 2017
8:12 p.m.: Here is the starting XI for the U.S.
#USMNT starters tonight in Mexico. Formation could look like this. Or Pulisic could move inside and Acosta could go wide. Or… ¯_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/zM6OkyaPA1
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) June 11, 2017
8:10 p.m.: DaMarcus Beasley is one of the most experienced players in international soccer.
With the start tonight, @DaMarcusBeasley becomes the first #USMNT player to appear in 5 different #WCQ cycles: https://t.co/Y3JMNRo4a2 pic.twitter.com/Pgw3z9vzC9
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 11, 2017
8:04 p.m. ET: The United States has some fresh faces in its starting XI.
Last time neither Dempsey nor Altidore was in #USMNT's starting lineup for a World Cup qualifier: Oct. 10, 2009 at Honduras (3-2 U.S. win).
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) June 11, 2017
Thumbnail photo via Isaiah J. Downing/USA TODAY Sports Images
