GLENDALE, Ariz. — Top stars were missing and no titles were at stake. Still, the United States took satisfaction in coming from behind late for a 1-1 exhibition draw against Mexico.
“There’s no friendlies against Mexico. It’s always a battle,” Jesús Ferreira said Wednesday night after scoring in the 81st minute on a counterattack that began after a shot by Mexico’s Carlos Rodríguez hit the crossbar.
Uriel Antuna put Mexico ahead after Kellyn Acosta’s giveaway in the 55th.
Matt Miazga’s giveaway to Atuna led to Rodríguez’s shot off the crossbar and Miazga lofted the rebound from inside his penalty area to Sergiño Dest, who dribbled through the midfield and passed to Alan Soñora in the center circle.
Soñora sent the ball wide to Jordan Morris, who crossed toward a streaking Ferreira.
“Jesús is always making good runs in the box and I just tried to put it out there for him,” Morris said.
Defender Luis Chávez tried to clear and the ball glanced off his foot to Ferreira, who directed the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo from 7 yards out for his eighth goal in 18 international appearances.
“When I saw Jordan down the line, I knew I just had to go into the box,” the FC Dallas striker said.
Because the match was not on a FIFA international fixture date, just two Americans and three Mexicans started who had extensive playing time at the World Cup. The teams meet again on June 15 at Las Vegas in a CONCACAF Nations League semifinal, when top players figure to be available.
“It’s important,” U.S. interim coach Anthony Hudson said. “It allows us to go into the summer with a much better understanding of what we’re going to face and also a better idea of the players.”
A crowd of 55,730 attended the 75th match between the rivals, and the U.S. extended its unbeaten streak against Mexico to five games (3-0-2) since El Tri’s last victory in the series in September of 2019. The Americans ended a 64-match streak…
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