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The U.S. Men's National Team won by a familiar scoreline once again, beating Mexico 2-0 in an international friendly before a deafening record-setting crowd of 64,369 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
The USA came out with a 4-4-2 diamond formation. Nick Rimando started in goal, with Omar Gonzalez in the back alongside Greg Garza, Ventura Alvarado and DeAndre Yedlin, Kyle Beckerman in the destroyer role, Joe Corona and Mix Diskerud paired in the middle, Michael Bradley leading the attack and Gyasi Zardes and Jordan Morris up top.
The action in the first half was frantic but short of quality chances, with both sides attacks usually negated by the other side's defensive tenacity and the temporary grass surface affecting the accuracy of passing. While the U.S. was more comfortable in possession, Mexico always looked dangerous on the break.
There wasn't a real scoring opportunity until the 24th minute, when Carlos Esquivel launched a rocket from outside the box that just missed the right corner. Gyasi Zardes may have had a penalty when he was pushed off the ball by Maza Rodriguez chasing a loose ball inside the box, but no foul was called.
Mexico almost scored at the end of the half, with Eduardo Herrera latching onto a near post cross but his shot only managed to hit the side netting.
Leon keeper William Yarbrough, Orlando City defender Brek Shea and Minnesota United midfielder Miguel Ibarra came on in the 2nd half for the Yanks.
The U.S. struck first. Michael Bradley spun out of a midfield challenge and surged upfield, poking the ball to Gyasi Zardes. Attempting a give-and-go, Zardes' pass fortuitously bounced to Jordan Morris, who collected before sliding his shot under Club Tijuana goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo for the opener.
Perry Kitchen and Juan Agudelo were subbed in with the USA needing a fresh spark and 25 minutes or so left in the match.
The Americans doubled their lead in the 72nd minute. Bradley played a long ball to Agudelo, and the New England Revolution forward neatly trapped with the outside of his foot before turning, dribbling across the box and firing a low shot that Saucedo got two hands on but couldn't keep out of the net.
Playing with confidence, the US surged forward, hungry for more. In the 80th minute, a give-and-go with Juan Agudelo and DeAndre Yedlin almost yielded another goal, but it was not to be as Saucedo blanked the high effort and the Dos a Cero scoreline held up in the end.