Mexico vs. USA, 2014 World Cup qualifying: USMNT hold on to draw at Azteca

There was nothing particularly pretty about the point the United States stole from Mexico on Tuesday in a scoreless at Azteca Stadium. The U.S. was out shot 19-1 and easily could have given up a few goals if not for some spectacular goalkeeping and the referee swallowing his whistle on a couple occasions. It was a historical moment, to be sure, but it was ugly.

Glorious? Sure, if you’ve ever casually appreciated a Lee Greenwood tune. But nothing to get overly pompous about.

You manage the team with the deepest pool of talent in your confederation, with players coming from the best domestic league on the continent. The most popular club in the nation, who has been to the final of the Copa Libertadores, has a policy of only playing Mexican players. European clubs have warmed to buying Mexican players, so a number of the players in the player pool currently ply their trade at the highest level of the game.

And don’t be mistaken, the U.S. has grown into a formidable rival. Their domestic league has matured and they have more physically imposing players than you do. However, their player pool is not terribly deep, and they’re lacking in technical players. They have proven in the past that they can defend and counter their way to results against the best, but they can also be passed off the park. World Cup quarterfinals are a massive accomplishment for them. Their most passionate fans are among the loudest and most raucous football supporters on earth, but there are only a few thousand of them. They have to play you in 20,000 seat venues, because if they played you in bigger venues, they probably wouldn’t sell out. If they did sell out, it would be because your fans bought more than half the tickets.

The U.S. Men’s National Team struck another blow for soccer in this country Tuesday night, both on the field and off.

The USMNT’s 0-0 draw against Mexico drew a 1.6 overnight rating, and later Wednesday when the viewership numbers come in (stay tuned), will likely become the most-watched World Cup Qualifying match in ESPN history. In fact, the highest previous rating for a qualifier on ESPN was a 0.7, coming for USA-Mexico in 2009, and USA-Jamaica in 1997. The U.S. game against Costa Rica on Friday, the now classic “snow game”, drew a 0.6 rating and ended up with 860,000 viewers, so we’re likely headed for a similarly big number for last night’s game.

That was the last real chance that Mexico had in the first half, as the United States defense settled in. The U.S. had a couple of promising looking counters, but their moves ultimately came to nothing, as both teams struggled to generate chances in the final 15 minutes of the first half.

That substitution, combined with the United States getting used to the tempo that Mexico was trying to push, led to the U.S. settling in and stifling Mexico early in the second half. It took until the 69th minute for Mexico to create a dangerous chance, which came on a set piece. The USMNT failed to clear a corner that fell to Zavala, but he hit his shot off a defender when it looked like he would score, and it deflected wide of goal.

Luis Tejada got Panama off to a blazing start, scoring his 34th international goal in the 2nd minute. It was also his 10th career goal in World Cup qualifying. Both marks are the best in Panama’s history.

Tejada was able to get free right in front of the goal mouth and put away Leonel Parris’ feed.

It’s going to be a nervy final 15 minutes.

Most of the second half was intense, if nothing else -- there was a major battle going on in the middle of the pitch -- but something always seemed to go wrong. A touch, a misplaced pass, a wayward finish always ensured that even the most incisive-looking move broke down. The best example came in the 77th minute, when Joel Cambell sucked the Jamaican defence (and Ricketts) to one side and squared for Saborio five yards in front of the goal only for the striker to completely miskick his effort and send the ball bobbling well wide.

• November 23, 1980: The day USA vs. Mexico became a major rivalry

Neither team made any changes to their lineup coming out of the locker room, but things definitely looked different. Mexico were immediately more aggressive on the attack and immediately pressed the US back on the heels from the opening whistle.

DeMarcus Beasley picked up a yellow card for taking down Giovani Dos Santos in the 8th minute and have Mexico their first dangerous set piece of the match The subsequent free kick whizzed through the box and out for a goal kick but it was definitely a nervy moment for the US.

The US was definitely the better side in the final 15 minutes of the half and it will be interesting to see what adjustments the two coaches make during the break.

Francisco Rodriguez is suspended for yellow card accumulation so 20-year old Diego Reyes has taken his place in the central defense. It’s a bit of a surprise that Chepo has chosen the youngster over the more experienced Hugo Ayala so be sure to watch him.

• November 23, 1980: The day USA vs. Mexico became a major rivalry

It is a heated rivalry, but isn’t everything a bit overwrought when talking about Mexico and the United States? Even within the relatively tame CONCACAF, El Tri and the USMNT can’t rightfully claim the title of most bitter rivalry. El Salvador and Honduras once went to war over a soccer game. Until we do that, second place is the ceiling for the Battle of the Rio Grande, since it’s hard to be more hostile than actual warfare. We must have some standards here.

Note: not actual war

The time certainly seems right for the US to finally break through with a win over Mexico at Azteca.

José Manuel de la Torre’s side have not been at their best lately and are susceptible as we saw in their 2-2 draw against Honduras on Friday. In addition Azteca itself hasn’t been the fortress we’re all used to of late, so if the US is ever going to get a win, today might be the day.

Daniel Robertson, the former manager of our FC Dallas blog Big D Soccer, took the trip four years ago and shared some stories from his experience traveling to Mexico City and attending a match in Azteca. It’s a great story and serves as a good primer for anyone considering making a future trip to experience a US vs. Mexico match south of the border.

I will give Daniel credit for being far braver than myself and being willing to walk into the lion’s den that is Azteca stadium when the USMNT visits. There’s no doubt it would be a tremendous experience and if the USA fails to get a win today, the incentive of being in the stadium with the US finally wins a qualifier at Azteca will remain a nice carrot for many supporters.

That was a friendly, in which neither the United States or Mexico had their best teams available. Because the game was scheduled just before the start of most domestic seasons in Europe, a number of prominent Europe-based players were left home for both teams. Some key domestic players were left out as well. Both teams fielded B-plus squads, Mexico failed to finish their chances, and the United States took the one excellent chance they created.

When the two teams meet at Estadio Azteca on Tuesday, for the first time since that U.S. victory, they’ll be playing under completely different circumstances. Both teams have their best available players, and the U.S. are missing more first-choice or potentially first-choice players than El Tri. The U.S. are coming off a much-needed victory, taking the pressure off of them to get a result at Azteca. Meanwhile, Mexico have drawn their first two matches in the Hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying and are desperate for a win.

The upstart Canaleros had high hopes entering the Hex and after going up 2-0 on Costa Rica in their opener, those hopes hit record highs. But Panama conceded twice and had to settle for a disappointing draw. Last Friday, they added a second draw, this time at Jamaica, and now Panama is winless after a home match and a trip to arguably the easiest place to win away in the Hex. That leaves them in a precarious position against Honduras, almost making it a must-win for the Canaleros, who cannot afford to drop points at home for the second time in as many chances.

Match date/time: Tuesday, March 26; 10 p.m. ET

Much to their chagrin, Costa Rica spent Friday in a Denver blizzard, but on Tuesday they will be back at home in San Jose, in comfortable temperatures. That’s good news for the Ticos, who find themselves at the bottom of the Hex after two matches and in need of a win against Jamaica.

This match will mark the Ticos’ first Hex match not at Estadio Saprissa in decades. No longer are the intimidating, bouncing stands feet from the pitch and turf (formerly patchy grass) working in Costa Rica’s favor. Now they are at Estadio Nacional, where a track separates the crowd from the field and a nice grass surface will welcome Jamaica to San Jose, eliminating one of the Ticos’ biggest advantages.

Sure, Jurgen Klinsmann and a relative B roster managed to pull off a win at the Azteca last August, but that was not a qualifying match. The stadium was nowhere near full (it’s sold out for today’s match) and there was none of the pressure that will be felt today.

Mexico will be without captain ‘Maza’ Francisco Rodriguez due to suspension. They previously believed that Jorge Torres Nilo would be suspended for the match, but he is not suspended and should start at left back.

ESPN recognizes USA-Mexico games are always the biggest draw of World Cup qualifying, and well, international soccer in this country in general.

They’ll put a ton of talent and broadcast time up for Tuesday night’s CONCACAF World Cup qualifier between the North American rivals. It’s absolutely worth it, too, because the USMNT is definitely reaping some buzz from the insane, snow-filled match against Costa Rica on Friday. It drew 860,000 viewers in a terrible timeslot up against an evening packed with March Madness. One would think the network would be poised to pick up even better numbers on Tuesday.