The Mexico vs the USA Concacaf final should count as one of the most thrilling games in their long rivalry. The USMNT leveled twice before going on to win through an extra-time penalty. Christian Pulisic scored from the spot, but there was more excitement in store till the final minutes as the Mexicans were awarded a penalty in the 4th minute of stoppage time, but squandered the chance to draw level.
The Mexico vs the USA final was a crazy and confusing 90 minutes of an extremely physical game and it ended just as intensely as Ethan Horvath, the backup goalkeeper saved in the fourth minute stoppage time of extra time to win it for the USMNT at Denver on Sunday. He had come in place of the injured Zack Steffen in the 69th minute.
An Exciting Mexico Vs the USA Final
The score was tied 2-all after regulation time in the final game. In the 24 minutes of the added 30, Pulisic booted into the upper right corner which should have counted as a sure winner. But then came the heart-stopper in the stoppage time. Mark McKenzie committed a handball after a tense video review.
But Horvath dove to the right to deny Andres Guardado and ensured a well-deserved win for the Americans in Mexico vs the USA tie.
The game began with Jesus Corona taking Mexico ahead in the first minute. Giovanni Reyna equalized in the 27th minute. Corona took advantage of a messy clearance by McKenzie. Corona beat Steffen on the left for their fastest goal since 1990 against their northern neighbors. Then Hector Moreno lost a chance to put the Mexicans ahead when his goal was ruled offside.
The second goal for the Mexicans came through Diego Lainez, who scored within a minute of coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute. But McKennie equalized for the Americans immediately in the 82nd minute. A brilliant one-handed save in the 90th minute denied a 25-yard shot by Hirving Lozano and took the game in the extra time. The young Americans held on till the end and made history for the US Soccer team to secure their first-year trophy. It has been a big boost ahead of the Gold Cup next month.
