GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — 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 Carlos Rodríguez’s shot 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,” Ferreira 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, including three wins. The Americans ended a 64-match streak with at least one first-half shot since a loss at Italy on Nov. 20, 2018.
Mexico scored after Acosta played a sloppy cross-field pass for Aaron Long at the midfield circle. The sprinting defender reached out with his left leg for the off-target pass only for Antuna to win the ball.
Antuna dribbled in alone on Sean Johnson and, from 12 yards, slotted the ball past the goalkeeper's left leg and inside the near post for his 10th goal in 41 international appearances. The goal ended an 803-minute scoreless streak for Johnson, a backup to Matt Turner at the World Cup.
The U.S. has 22 wins, 36 losses and 17 draws against El Tri. Hudson, who took over from Gregg Berhalter in January, has led the Americans to two wins, one loss and two draws.
Walker Zimmerman at central defender and Dest at left back were the only U.S. starters who saw extensive playing time at the World Cup. They were joined in the starting lineup by Johnson, Long, Acosta, right back DeAndre Yedlin, midfielders James Sands and Cade Cowell, and Morris, Ferreira and Vazquez heading the attack.
Ten starters were from Major League Soccer, along with Dest, unused by AC Milan since Jan. 24.
Caleb Wiley, an 18-year-old defender, entered in the 90th minute for his international debut. Miazga replaced Long in the 70th minute for his first international appearance since June 2021 and Sands made his first since September 2021.
Mexico started just three World Cup regulars; left back Jesús Gallardo and midfielders Luis Chávez and Alexis Vega. Defender Víctor Guzmán and forward Roberto de la Rosa started in El Tri debuts, and Ozziel Herrera made his debut in the 87th minute.
