U.S. plays to 0-0 draw with Mexico, moves closer to qualifying for World Cup

Estadio Azteca rises like a concrete-and-steel citadel from the crowded, dusty boulevards of Mexico’s Santa Úrsula neighborhood. For greater than 4 a long time that fortress has been almost impenetrable, with the nation’s nationwide soccer staff dropping simply two aggressive matches inside its partitions.

However it felt completely different throughout Thursday’s World Cup qualifier with the U.S., a recreation that resulted in a 0-0 tie. Gone was the fearsome, intimidating Azteca, the place opponents’ World Cup desires have lengthy gone to die.

With a late-night kickoff, the sweltering climate that melted previous invaders gave method to temperatures within the 60s and a slight breeze. And due to sanctions leveled over Mexican followers’ continued used of an anti-gay chant, greater than half of the stadium’s 84,000 seats have been vacant, leaving the higher deck largely empty and quiet.

The place Azteca as soon as roared, Thursday it emitted barely a whimper, leaving it to the PA announcer to repeatedly urge the followers to make noise.

In Mexico. Throughout a World Cup qualifier.

However for all that had modified inside Azteca, one factor remained the identical: the U.S. nonetheless hasn’t gained a aggressive recreation there after taking part in Mexico to the scoreless draw.

The end result did run the People’ unbeaten streak in opposition to Mexico to 4 video games, nonetheless, and left them second to Canada within the eight-team qualifying desk, forward of Mexico on purpose differential and three factors up on fourth-place Costa Rica (5-3-4) with two video games remaining.

The highest three groups within the CONCACAF match qualify for this fall’s World Cup in Qatar, and each the U.S. (6-2-4) and Mexico (6-2-4) can transfer an enormous step nearer towards reserving their spots with victories Sunday, the People over Panama (5-4-3) in Orlando, Fla., and Mexico in Honduras (0-8-4).

Mexico defender Jorge Sanchez, left, tries to steal the ball away from U.S. ahead Christian Pulisic within the second half.

(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Occasions)

The U.S. will go into Sunday short-handed although after defender DeAndre Yedlin and ahead Tim Weah picked up yellow playing cards within the first half, leaving them suspended for the Panama recreation. The U.S. was already lacking 4 starters to damage earlier than dropping defender Reggie Cannon after he examined optimistic for COVID-19 this week.

Given the tight standings, Thursday’s recreation was one neither staff may afford to lose — and for a lot of the evening each groups performed that manner, going ahead cautiously and in fast spurts, cautious to not go away themselves uncovered on the different finish.

The perfect U.S. scoring probability of the primary half got here within the 35^th minute, when Christian Pulisic broke into the field alone on the left publish, solely to place his left-footed shot proper at Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa.

For Pulisic, who scored in every of this final two video games with Mexico, it was a golden alternative that he didn’t put away and it proved pricey as a result of the U.S. by no means got here nearer — though a tremendous dribbling show from Gio Reyna on a protracted cutback run within the 72^nd minute set Jordan Pefok up on the doorstep. However Pefok’s left-footed shot from deep within the field went extensive.

U.S. defender DeAndre Yedlin reacts after U.S. ahead Christian Pulisic and Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa collide within the first half at Estadio Azteca.

(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Occasions)

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Mexico attacked with vigor late and was rewarded with essentially the most harmful of its two photographs on purpose within the 60^th minute when Hirving Lozano examined U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen with a right-footed shot from exterior the field that Steffen stopped.

Mexico additionally argued for 2 penalty calls after gamers have been taken down within the field within the second half, however Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar gave neither.

But whereas the noise and warmth of a typical Azteca recreation was lacking, the 7,200-foot altitude wasn’t and the skinny air introduced its presence with authority halfway via the second half, leaving gamers on either side stumbling to the end.

It was an unfitting addition to among the finest rivalries in worldwide soccer historical past, particularly given the actual fact Thursday’s recreation could show to be the final aggressive match the U.S. performs at Azteca.

With Mexico and the U.S. co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, it’s unlikely both must qualify for the match. And with the variety of CONCACAF groups within the World Cup discipline doubling from three to 6, by 2030 the confederation’s qualifying format will change, maybe making U.S.-Mexico video games at Azteca one thing for the historical past books, not the report books.