The U.S. and Mexico renew their rivalry, this time at Under-23 level in a CONCACAF Olympic qualifier that will decide where the two countries finish in Group A and will help determine each nation’s semifinal opponent. Both sides have the maximum six points from two games and are assured of a place in the last four, with the two semifinal winners then clinching a place at the Tokyo games later this year.
The Group A winner between the United States and Mexico will face the runner-up of Group B (Honduras, Canada, El Salvador, or Haiti), while the runner-up will play the winner of Group B. Finally, in the event of two teams finishing level on points, the tie-breakers are goal differential and then goals scored.
Keep up with all the action in Guadalajara in our LIVE blog, which features analysis, social reaction, and contributions from various ESPN talent.
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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 international level.
10:31 PM ET: More analysis on the late Mexico goal…
Goal Mexico. Antuna punishes a giveaway by Soto and fires it past Ochoa. The #USMNT U-23s were so close to halftime. Big blow for the U.S. #usynt
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) March 25, 2021
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.
#PreOlympic | #MEXUSA | 1-0 | 45′
G⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️L!!!!!!!!!!! ??♂️?⚽️?@AntunaUriel with a shot from outside the box scores the opening goal for the night!!!!!!! #FMFporNuestroFútbol | #CMOQ pic.twitter.com/JQfjIScMdQ
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 25, 2021
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 will 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. Aruajo 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 Guadalajara as both teams have dished out hard challenges in the early stages. Amen, Janusz.
It’s USA vs Mexico so it’s always important. #USYNT
— Janusz Michallik (@JanuszMichallik) March 25, 2021
9 MINS: Another corner for Mexico, which Roberto Alvarado takes. Goalkeeper David Ochoa looked to slightly misjudge the flight of Alvarado’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…
????? #tokyo2020
— Andrés Perea (@andresperea06) March 24, 2021
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.
This is the Starting XI for tonight’s match ???!!!
Let’s go fellas!!!???#CMOQ | #FMFporNuestroFútbol pic.twitter.com/Y4K67FJSd3
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 25, 2021
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.
Almost showtime ⌛️
Your U-23 #USMNT for tonight’s @Concacaf Clásico! pic.twitter.com/XSLYBBLTqN
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) March 25, 2021
8:24 PM ET: You know the old adage ‘Look good, play good’. Mexico are set to debut their new Rosa Mexicano jerseys.
Time to use our brand new jersey!!!??
Rosa Mexicano is in for tonight!!!??⚽️#CMOQ | #FMFporNuestroMéxico pic.twitter.com/BbqoI8tmZu
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2021
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.
