45 Minutes In
Halftime Report: One-Way Traffic as U.S. Leads 2-0
The United States dominated the first half against Mexico, taking a 2-0 lead and looking consistently dangerous against a toothless, flaccid Mexican team.
GLENDALE, Ariz.—Mexico showed up more than half-hour late to its international friendly with the United States men's national team, the bus caught in traffic on the way to the University of Phoenix Stadium.
After the first half, Miguel Herrera's side probably wished it hadn't come at all.
It was a tentative opening quarter hour from both sides before Michael Bradley put the United States up 1-0 off a Graham Zusi corner kick. The midfielder beat marker Jesus Eduardo Zavala to the curling effort and hit a laser past goalkeeper Moises Munoz. The tally was his fourth against Mexico, remarkable especially considering he has no more than one goal against any other country.
After the goal, the all-MLS lineup continued to have the majority of possession, with Bradley leading the charge. The second goal came through him as well. Tony Beltran, getting the start at right back, put in a dainty cross that Bradley flicked further across the box after a long, smart run. Chris Wondolowski finished off the movement, sliding into the six-yard box and poking it into the net for his third goal in two matches
The UoP stadium grew eerily quiet, the majority Mexico supporters going silent as dos a cero chants rang out from the American Outlaws section just behind the American goal. At least for a half, everything went right.
After the first half, Miguel Herrera's side probably wished it hadn't come at all.
It was a tentative opening quarter hour from both sides before Michael Bradley put the United States up 1-0 off a Graham Zusi corner kick. The midfielder beat marker Jesus Eduardo Zavala to the curling effort and hit a laser past goalkeeper Moises Munoz. The tally was his fourth against Mexico, remarkable especially considering he has no more than one goal against any other country.
After the goal, the all-MLS lineup continued to have the majority of possession, with Bradley leading the charge. The second goal came through him as well. Tony Beltran, getting the start at right back, put in a dainty cross that Bradley flicked further across the box after a long, smart run. Chris Wondolowski finished off the movement, sliding into the six-yard box and poking it into the net for his third goal in two matches
The UoP stadium grew eerily quiet, the majority Mexico supporters going silent as dos a cero chants rang out from the American Outlaws section just behind the American goal. At least for a half, everything went right.
