3/25/24- The United States have beaten Mexico in the Nations League final in a dos a cero classic (2-0). The US came into the final unfavored to a strong Mexico side but proved the bookies wrong with a resounding 2-0 win. This is the United States’ 3rd straight Nations League win and are the only team to ever win the Nations League.
The game started out with the U.S. dominating the match in the first 15 minutes with a chance for captain Christian Pulisic in the 5th minute which was saved by Mexican goalkeeper Memo Ochoa.
Mexico eventually grew into the game and at the 45th minute mark it looked like the game would be scoreless at halftime but Tyler Adams had something to say about that. After receiving a pass from Weston McKennie, he shot a rocket 35 yards out from goal and sent it right past Ochoa according to ESPN. This was Tyler Adams’s 2nd goal for the United States, scoring before in a match against Mexico in 2018 according to USMNT.
Coming out of the locker rooms, Mexico were on the offensive and were ready to press the United States. The Mexicans were getting much better looks at goal with a volley from Henry Martín in the 52nd minute and a few other shots.
Then in the 63rd minute a Mexican defender gave away the ball at midfield which was picked up by Giovanni Reyna who was fouled around the 40 yard line. The free kick was taken quickly and Christian Pulisic danced along the goal line and crossed the ball in front of goal, the ball was cleared and Gio Reyna took a shot on the volley from inside the 18 and beat Ochoa at the near post according to the Athletic .
The US defended Mexico’s attacks until on a charge towards goal Antonee Robinson seemed to commit a foul inside the box on Santiago Jimenez. A penalty was given to Mexico. But within seconds of the call the referee was called over to the sideline and after VAR the penalty was disallowed as Robinson made no contact on Jimenez according to ESPN.
As the match approached the 90th minute Mexican fans began chanting a homophobic slur at USA goalkeeper Mat Turner on goal kicks. After a few minutes of this abuse the referee had enough and paused the game for fans to be escorted out.
The chant continued until full time despite the official’s actions. After a quick 6 minutes of injury time the US won the Nations League and Christian Pulisic lifted the trophy.
The USA Mexico rivalry is considered one of the biggest international rivalries in all of soccer. It dates back to the 1930s when the USA beat Mexico 4-2 in World Cup qualifying according to USMNT—though the rivalry has become a bit bland as Mexico has not beaten the USA since 2019. Many think this a shift from Mexico being the best team in CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) to now being the USA. Still this rivalry is so exciting (at least from a US fan perspective).
The USMNT will play next on June 8th and June 12th against Columbia and Brazil.
