Mexico downs USMNT to hand Pochettino first loss as head coach
10/15/2024 11:23 PM
Mauricio Pochettino’s first trip to Mexico as U.S. men’s national team head coach ended as a forgettable one.
Mexico handed the USMNT a 2-0 loss in Guadalajara on Tuesday night, which marked the first defeat of the Pochettino-era. Raul Jimenez scored the opening goal from a well-taken free kick in the first half before Cesar Huerta added an insurance goal for Javier Aguirre’s men four minutes after the interval.
El Tri legend Andres Guardado featured for the final time on the international level, earning his 182nd cap.
Jimenez broke the deadlock in the 21st minute, sending a right-footed free kick into the top-right corner. Matt Turner guessed correctly on his dive but was unable to deny Jimenez his 35th international goal for El Tri.
Aidan Morris’ foul on Roberto Alvarado led to Jimenez’s free kick opportunity.
Huerta extended El Tri’s lead to 2-0 four minutes into the second half. Jimenez’s sliding challenge on Tim Ream led to a loose ball finding Huerta, who made no mistake by drilling a low shot into the bottom-left corner.
It marked the Pumas winger’s third international goal.
Despite the second-half arrivals of Haji Wright, Brandon Vazquez, Tanner Tessmann, Alex Zendejas, and Kristoffer Lund, the USMNT failed to find the back of the net.
Vazquez’s near post effort in the 80th minute was punched away by Luis Malagon, serving as the USMNT’s best offensive chance of the night.
The result snapped the USMNT’s seven-match unbeaten run against El Tri across all competitions.
Pochettino’s men will return to action this November in the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal round. While no official announcement has been made yet, it seems likely that Jamaica will oppose the Americans in the two-legged series this November.
