CONCACAF World Cup qualifying live: Mexico 0-0 USMNT, Costa Rica 1-0 Canada, highlights, analysis and paths forward

Following the Mexico-U.S. match, Tyler Adams and Kellyn Acosta took a second snap a photograph with a few followers who traveled from the U.S. for the occasion — Owen Wilson and his brother Andrew (a.okay.a. Beef Supreme from Idiocracy).

Based on the Washington Put up’s Steven Goff, Owen Wilson is an LAFC fan and made the journey on Acosta’s suggestion.

The one factor you’ll be able to actually say about all that is: Wow.

In his post-match interview with CBS’ Jenny Chiu, Gregg Berhalter confirmed that Tenerife proper again Shaq Moore will be part of the U.S. crew forward of their match on Sunday. Moore’s presence will likely be obligatory now that DeAndre Yedlin will likely be suspended attributable to yellow card accumulation as Sergiño Dest offers with a thigh harm and Reggie Cannon appears to beat a optimistic COVID check on Thursday.

Regardless of a valiant effort from Canada to push again with solely 10 males and get just a few probabilities — together with a Tajon Buchanan header off the crossbar and Jonathan David shot off the put up — the occasion must wait: Canada’s 1-0 loss to Costa Rica was their first of this last spherical of qualifying.

Did the enormity of the second get to Canada, as they hardly regarded like their dominant selves at occasions? Or was this type of outcome certain to occur after such an improbably robust run to date? Both means, Sunday’s match in opposition to Jamaica is shaping as much as be one of the crucial memorable in Canada males’s nationwide crew historical past.

These misses by Pulisic and Pefok will hang-out, as the US has seldom had a greater probability to safe a win at Estadio Azteca. As an alternative, each groups stay on observe to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.

A 0-0 draw will do little to persuade Mexican followers that this aspect is trending upwards. If something, Mexico averted a fourth consecutive loss to the U.S. and remained in rivalry to qualify on to Qatar 2022. Mexico head coach Tata Martino waited till the seventy fifth minute to make his first substitution, as he pushed his beginning XI to the restrict in the hunt for the three factors. Ultimately, chants of “Fuera Tata” earlier than the ultimate whistle inform the story of the present state of Mexico’s nationwide crew.

At first, it appeared that Gio Reyna was going to vary the sport. The Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder made an ideal particular person effort to problem the El Tri protection and threaten that the guests might steal a further two factors.

As an alternative, Gregg Berhalter opts to interchange Tyler Adams and DeAndre Yedlin for 2 middle backs: Erik Palmer-Brown and Aaron Lengthy. Now, it seems the US will end the sport on the defensive with 5 on the again. Early indicators have favored Mexico, who seem to have discovered continuity errors as they exploit pockets of area to create attacking sequences.

It is a tense one. Jordan Morris rounds out Berhalter’s subs as he replaces Christian Pulisic.

Except for a trio of torrid video games from Ricardo Pepi, the US males have struggled to seek out a solution up high. Pepi has gotten the lion’s share of begins, with Gyasi Zardes and Jesus Ferreira deputizing on events. Recalled after lacking the previous couple home windows, Jordan Pefok finds a golden probability within the field, unmarked, however fails to capitalize.

Between this and Pulisic’s shot into Memo Ochoa within the first half, the US actually must be successful. As an alternative, it is a tense 0-0 coming into the seventy fifth minute.

The sport has continued its first-half fee of depth into the second interval, with the scoreline remaining deadlocked at 0 within the sixtieth minute. Timothy Weah is being changed by Giovanni Reyna for the latter’s first involvement in qualifying since September, whereas Jordan Pefok checks in up high for Ricardo Pepi. Nevertheless, neither sub is more likely to change the truth that El Tri has discovered it simpler to choose aside the US’ midfield and backline to create probabilities, because the guests have regarded to play on their again foot for the primary quarter-hour.

From a U.S. perspective, you’d hope that Pefok’s directness can problem Mexico’s middle backs whereas Reyna can journey up the midfield to create new attacking passing sequences. For now, nevertheless, the USMNT”s strategy has gone stale with the unique personnel.

An enormous outcome for each the US and Mexico, as Panama performs to a 1-1 draw in opposition to Honduras, who had solely netted three factors by means of their first 11 qualifiers.

The outcome takes essential factors away from Panama, and now leaves Costa Rica in pole place to finish CONCACAF’s high 4.

It appeared like this was Canada’s plan all alongside: sit again, take up strain, take a completely raging crowd out of the sport and search for an opportunity or two on the counter. And for awhile it labored, till Mark-Anthony Kaye was given his second yellow card for an pointless foul after the whistle and Canada have been on their heels. Celso Borges’ header felt prefer it had been coming and for the primary time since matchday 6, and now Canada discover themselves down 1-0. Atiba Hutchinson and Tajon Buchanan have been standouts, however John Herdman goes to have to return to the drafting board for Canada to get a outcome proper now.

It was frenetic. A bit messy and ripe with depth. The primary half of U.S. – Mexico had unbelievable misses, yellow playing cards on each side. It’s been a nervy affair, however that was anticipated with World Cup qualification on the road for each side. Even at half capability, the quantity contained in the Estadio Azteca was loud, followers reacting to every contact and optimistic play from El Tri. The story of the primary half have been two missed probabilities that might’ve opened the scoring for both aspect.

After Jesús “Tecatito” Corona was despatched by means of alone with simply U.S goalkeeper Zack Steffen to beat, Corona’s poor contact grew to become a wasted alternative. Christian Pulisic adopted swimsuit by failing to complete an exquisite cross from Tim Weah inside Mexico’s six yard field. At 0-0, the outcome feels honest, nevertheless it appears like a aim will come within the second half.

Whereas the sport hasn’t lacked for fiery challenges, it has lacked for guild-edged probabilities. Pulisic’s shot into Ochoa’s chest probably represents one of the best probability on aim for both aspect in a match which has largely been performed in transition with out reaching both field. A draw would not hurt both crew as they search for a transparent path to Qatar — however, in fact, a loss would create a bigger impediment to beat,

45 minutes to go at Estadio Azteca. What might go improper!

With the rating nonetheless 0-0 in Costa Rica, Canada midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye was despatched off after getting booked a second time in a span of simply 20 minutes. That places Canada all the way down to 10 males within the thirty sixth minute.

It was an off the ball incident the place Kaye and a Costa Rica performed bumped shoulders, contact that was slightly dramatically embellished by the latter occasion. A troublesome strategy to go for Kaye, however while you’re already on a yellow, it’s important to know to keep away from contact like that.

The USMNT will not go away this match at full power. Not solely will DeAndre Yedlin miss the weekend match in opposition to Panama, however proper winger Timothy Weah’s yellow card may even maintain him from the qualifier in Orlando.

That might imply a return to the lineup for Giovanni Reyna, who hasn’t been capable of play a task since September attributable to harm. At naked minimal, you’d anticipate each Yedlin and Weah to log further minutes tonight given the approaching (and compelled) relaxation.

Christian Pulisic misses a gild-edged probability, sending a left-footed shot in entrance of aim proper into Memo Ochoa’s chest. It is the clearest probability eithe rteam has had by means of 36 minutes — and now Pulisic seems to be clutching his hip, both in harm or to justify taking pictures along with his weaker left foot.

Would have been an enormous aim for the Chelsea man who has two objectives in his final 4 appearances. As an alternative, this recreation stays tied at zero.

Looks like it is from the same old intimidating environment on the Azteca tonight…

This recreation already has extra yellow playing cards than a pop punk playlist, with three proven within the opening 26 minutes. The most recent went to DeAndre Yedlin. Like Alvarez, Yedlin will likely be suspended for his subsequent match attributable to accumulation. That is a giant deal for the US, whose proper again corps are missing Sergiño Dest (thigh harm) and Reggie Cannon (COVID optimistic, as of Thursday afternoon).

Edson Alvarez matches Robinson’s yellow, pulling Christian Pulisic down close to his neck with a tough problem. Alvarez will miss this weekend’s qualifier attributable to accumulation.

Kellyn Acosta’s free kick went proper to Guillermo Ochoa. Whereas this is not a gap aim, the US has gotten on the entrance foot extra in current minutes, with Timothy Weah drawing a free kick within the twenty third minute.

Raul Jimenez does effectively to drive Miles Robinson into committing a foul inside the opening 10 minutes, in the end forcing the Atlanta middle again right into a yellow card. That is going to be price monitoring tonight, as Robinson will likely be strolling on skinny ice for over 80 minutes. Foolish card to take.