Move over Columbus, Cincinnati has its own "Dos a Cero" moment as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie scored late to lift the United States to a 2-0 win Friday night over Mexico in a Concacaf World Cup Qualifier at FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium.
The win vaults the USMNT above Mexico and atop the Octagonal table after seven matches while pursuing a Qatar 2022 spot. This was head coach Gregg Berhalter's third straight win over El Tri, following titles in the Concacaf Gold Cup and Nations League finals this summer.
On the breakthrough goal, Timothy Weah was played into space and isolated against Jesus Gallardo. After a few stepovers, Weah sliced a ball in front of goal where Pulisic, just five minutes after entering the match, crashed in to put a glancing header past Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
McKennie doubled the lead and ignited “Dos a Cero” chants throughout the red-white-and-blue crowd by taking an attempted pass that deflected back to him off a Mexican defender and coolly finishing inside the far post.
Mexico had the best two chances of the opening half, but Zack Steffen dove to his left to deny Hirving Lozano, who was deftly played behind the US defense in the 18th minute. At the half-hour mark, Jesus Corona received a Lozano service but bounced his volley wide of the post.
The US were a different team after halftime, with McKennie coming close to breaking the stalemate four minutes into the second half, but Ochoa did well to parry it over the crossbar.
McKennie was later booked for his part in a fracas which saw Luis Rodriguez put his hands to the face of Brenden Aaronson, who attempted a quick restart. As a result, McKennie is suspended for yellow card accumulation and will miss Tuesday’s match against Jamaica.
Miles Robinson, who was sent off one minute from full time on his second bookable offense, will also be suspended.
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: A different city, a different generation, same result. The United States again celebrated a 2-0 win over El Tri, and they did it by having a huge second half, which has been their calling card. The three points put the USMNT atop the table midway through the final round of qualification.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Pulisic’s goal was the winner, but McKennie iced the result with this finish, which started a chant that would be repeated throughout the Cincinnati night.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: When things weren’t going well in the first half, Weah was the USMNT’s best player and he played a pivotal role during both second-half goals.
Next Up
- USA: Tuesday, Nov. 16 at Jamaica | 5 pm ET (Paramount+, Universo) | Concacaf World Cup Qualifier
- MEX: Tuesday, Nov. 16 at Canada | 9 pm ET (Paramount+, Telemundo, Universo, OneSoccer) | Concacaf World Cup Qualifier
