Christian Pulisic drives USA to beat Mexico, first place in CONCACAF table

After losing to the Mexicans 2-1 in November 2015 in Columbus, Ohio, USA, they returned to the traditional “Two to Zero” score that marked the previous four qualifying matches at home from 2001-13, all in Columbus.

Still recovering after spraining his left ankle on September 8 in Honduras, the 23-year-old Pulisic entered in place of Brenden Aaronson in the 69th minute and led the United States to a tie for first with Mexico in the final. of 14 games. The qualifying round was halfway there.

Yunus Musah, an 18-year-old emerging as a key American midfielder, passed 21-year-old Tim Weah on the right flank.

Yeah, the son of Liberia’s president and former FIFA Player of the Year George Weah, crossed and Pulisic passed Johan Vasquez and headed the ball past goalkeeper David Ochoa for his 17th international goal.

Pulisic, making his third substitute appearance after injury (the first two were for Chelsea) ran to the baseline and pointed to the American insignia on his jersey and jubilant American fans dressed in red, white, and blue stormed into the TLQ Stadium.

McKennie was delisted for two games in September for violating team COVID-19 protocols, scored after exchanging passes with Jesús Ferreira, McKennie’s eighth international goal.

However, McKennie is suspended for Tuesday’s qualifier in Jamaica after receiving his second yellow card of the competition, evaluated at 68 for arguing with the referees after they did not call Mexico for fouling Aaronson.

And Mexico has 14 points each over North America, Central America, and the Caribbean region, one ahead of Canada and three ahead of Panama.

The top three nations from the eight-team group qualify for next year’s tournament in Qatar and the fourth-place team advances to the playoffs.

The victory was the third this year for the Americans over Mexico, following a 3-2 victory in the Nations League final in June, also with a goal from Pulisic, and a 1-0 victory in the final of CONCACAF gold in August.

Rain fell as the game began in a cold 42 degrees, the coldest for a United States qualifier since the March 2013 Snow Classico, a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica played in 29-degree temperatures in Commerce City. , Colorado.

Ochoa was booed with every touch, apparently, because United States coach Gregg Berhalter said Thursday that the quotes said to be from Ochoa showed that the Americans had yet to earn Mexico’s respect.

Notes: Panama rallied to a 3-2 win in last place, Honduras, with goals from Cecilio Waterman at 77, César Yanis at 81, and Eric Davis at 85. L

os Catrachos, in their first game since signing Hernán Darío Gómez as a coach, scored goals from Alberth Elis at 30 and Brayan Moya at 59. … Canada won 1-0 against El Salvador with Jonathan David’s goal in minute 57 … Michail Antonio scored in the 82nd minute when Jamaica drew 1-1 at El Salvador, they got a goal in the 90th minute from Alex Roldán, a brother of Americans Cristian Roldan.