Sports

Mexico edge U.S. to clinch top spot in Olympic qualifying group – ESPN

Uriel Antuna‘s goal led Mexico a 1-0 win over the United States on Wednesday, securing El Tri top spot in Group A of CONCACAF’s men’s Olympic qualifying tournament.

Both teams already were assured of advancing from Group A to semifinal berths on Sunday. The U.S. finished Group B in second place and will play Honduras, unless Canada beats the Catrachos in Thursday’s finale of Group B.

Here’s how the match panned out on Wednesday night in Guadalajara:

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LIVE BLOG

11.50 PM ET: That will just about do it from us and we hope you enjoyed following along with us tonight. Remember to check back on Sunday as the U.S. play to clinch a spot at the Tokyo games, while the senior side are in action on Thursday in an international friendly vs. Jamaica (1 PM ET on ESPN/Watch ESPN). Goodnight!

11:42 PM ET: Let’s check in with Jeff Carlisle one more time after a frustrating 1-0 defeat for the United States.

“The result wasn’t a surprise, but one would hope that the U.S. attack shows a lot more in this weekend’s semi than was shown tonight. On the plus side, both center-backs showed well. Tough decision for Kreis in terms of whether Pineda or Kessler partners Justen Glad from the start in the next game.’

“The strength of this team continues to be the goalkeeper and the back five if you will. They’ll need to ride that in order to qualify for Tokyo.”

FULL TIME: MEXICO 1-0 UNITED STATES. El Tri win Group A and will play the runner-up of Group B on Sunday, while the Americans finish second and will play the winner of Group B on the same day.

93 MINS: Djordje Mihailovic’s corner is headed away and Mexico look to break. Aaron Herrera deliberately fouls Erick Aguirre and the referee awards a foul and then blows the final whistle. 1-0 Mexico is your final.

93 MINS: The U.S. win a corner just before the end of the three minutes of added time. Surely this is their last chance!

92 MINS: SUB. Uriel Antuna, the unquestioned Man of the Match comes off to applause and is replaced by Alan Mozo.

90 MINS: While the U.S. haven’t created too much, it has been an encouraging performance from goalkeeper David Ochoa. Former U.S. international and current ESPN pundit Herculez Gomes has been impressed.

88 MINS: The U.S. attack really doesn’t look like scoring tonight.

83 MINS: Alexis Vega whips in a dangerous ball but it gets all the way through to Ochoa who holds on. Ochoa and Vasquez come together at the top of the box and tempers flare on both sides. Not much in it but we officially have a U.S. vs. Mexico game!

80 MINS: Just 10 minutes plus stoppage time to go. Can the U.S. find an equalizer? As it stands they need two goals to win the game and group over Mexico.

75 MINS: SUB. Jason Kreis uses his last roll of the dice by bringing on ex-Clemson football recruit Tanner Tessmann for Hassani Dotson.

71 MINS: SUB. Benji Michel becomes the fourth sub for the U.S. as the Orlando City man replaces Sebastian Saucedo. The U.S. have one sub remaining.

70 MINS: SUB. It’s Mexico’s turn to make subs, as El Tri bring on Jesus Ricardo Angulo and Carlos Rodriguez for Jose Macias and Roberto Alvarado.

69 MINS: The U.S. create a half-chance but despite Jurado scrambling, fail to direct a shot on target. Mihailovic continues to be the best attacking threat for the Americans

61 MINS: SUB. Triple sub for the United States. Jesus Ferreira comes on even though he’s carrying a yellow card. He’ll need to be careful to avoid being suspended for the semifinal.

59 MINS: Antuna sets up the dangerous Jose Macias in close but the Chivas man skies a golden chance for Mexico. Another let-off for the USYNT.

58 MINS: CHANCE. Maybe the best moment for the U.S. all night, as Sebastian Saucedo’s shot is blocked by Gilbert Sepulveda. U.S. players appeal for a handball but it isn’t given. Johnny then heads from his knees from the subsequent corner but it is gathered by Jurado. First shot on target of the night for the U.S.

56 MINS: Antuna again gets the better of a U.S. full-back, this time Aaron Herrera, which leads to a chance for Alvarado. A brave block from Henry Kessler thwarts the effort but Mexico pushing for a second now.

53 MINS: The U.S. finally break into the Mexico half but despite his best protests Johnny is not awarded a corner by the referee. Good work from Soto to start the move.

46 MINS: We are back underway, as Mexico pick up right where they left off and charge forward into the U.S. half.

10.42 PM ET: Here’s Jeff ‘s biggest takeaways from the opening 45 minutes

1. Tough to see where the creativity is going to come from tonight, especially with Kreis protecting guys like Jesus Ferreira on yellow cards.

2. Defensively, the U.S. improved as the half went on. Pineda in particular looks much sharper than he was in the group opener against Costa Rica.

3. For all the talk about Johnny Cardoso having attacking skill, he has yet to show it at the international level.

10:31 PM ET: More analysis on the late Mexico goal…

HALF-TIME: It’s 1-0 Mexico at the break, as Antuna’s 45th-minute strike is the difference.

45 MINS: GOAAALLL! Mexico strike first just before half-time through the ex-Galaxy man, Uriel Antuna.

37 MINS: The U.S. win a promising free kick and Djordje Mihailovic’s dangerous ball leads to a scramble in the box. The Mexico goalkeeper Luis Malagon lands awkwardly on his wrist and looks to have suffered a nasty injury. He is stretchered off and Sebastian Jurado comes on to replace him.

28 MINS: A huge let-off for the U.S.! Mauricio Pineda makes a brilliant, goal-saving tackle to deny Alejandro Mayorga, who looked to be clear in on goal after turning U.S. right-back Julian Araujo inside out. Araujo the most relieved man on the pitch. It stays 0-0.

23 MINS: Mexico are starting to seize momentum here, as Ochoa makes a comfortable first save, before ex-LA Galaxy attacker Uriel Antuna blazes well wide with a daisy-cutter.

20 MINS: If the US were to qualify what could a dream XI of eligible players look like? While understanding that many of these players would not be released by their clubs, here is our Jeff Carlisle’s dream XI :

GK David Ochoa; LB Antonee Robinson, CB Mark McKenzie, CB Chris Richards, RB Sergino Dest; MF Yunus Musah, MF Tyler Adams, MF Weston McKennie; FW Giovanni Reyna, FW Josh Sargent, FW Christian Pulisic

Now that is a team on paper that would figure to be a major contender for a medal.

16 MINS: Mexico’s third corner of the night doesn’t yield any end product, as Vasquez heads harmlessly wide of Ochoa.

13 MINS: It’s getting physical in Guadalajara as both teams have dished out hard challenges in the early stages. Amen, Janusz.

9 MINS: Another corner for Mexico, which Roberto Alvarado takes. Goalkeeper David Ochoa looked to slightly misjudge the flight of the Cruz Azul starlet’s cross but holds on to avoid any further danger.

7 MINS: After being pushed back initially by Mexico, the U.S. have started to grab a foothold in this match, first winning a corner and now a free kick in the attacking half.

3 MINS: And Mexico win the first corner of the match… which after a partial clear, results in a long-distance drive from Johan Vásquez that fizzes wide.

9:40 PM ET: AND WE ARE UNDER WAY FROM GUADALAJARA!

9:17 PM ET: Are you ready for U.S. vs. Mexico? Midfielder Andres Perea sure seems excited for his first taste of CONCACAF’s greatest rivalry…

9:02 PM ET: And El Tri’s lineup is out… Club America’s Sebastian Cordova, the tournament’s top scorer on four goals, starts from the bench with an eye to Sunday’s semifinal.

8:56 PM ET: In case you missed it…could some of the USMNT’s top young stars play in Tokyo if the U.S. qualify? Christian Pulisic for one has said he would relish the opportunity to represent the Stars and Stripes this summer.

“It’s something I’ve thought about, and have wanted to play in,” Pulisic said on a Zoom call with reporters about playing in the Olympics. “Obviously, I can’t control what goes on. What’s best for me at the time and what’s best for the team at the time, I obviously can’t say. But it is something that I would like to play in.”

8:37 PM ET: The USYNT starting XI is out and Jason Kreis has made six changes with Julian Araujo, Henry Kessler, Sebastian Saucedo, Andres Perea and Hassani Dotson the only holdovers from Sunday’s 4-0 win over the Dominican Republic.

8:24 PM ET: You know the old adage ‘Look good, play good’. Mexico are set to debut their new Rosa Mexicano jerseys tonight.

8:00 PM ET: It’s Matchday, as we are now less than an hour and a half away from kick-off between the USMNT Under-23s and Mexico in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying! Remember to keep it locked here throughout the evening as we follow along with this crucial Group A decider, with both sides attempting to edge one step closer to securing a spot at this summer’s Tokyo games.

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