Scoreless Thrills at Azteca
My entries are usually about the game itself, but this time it’s going to be a bit different. I was able to go to Mexico City this past Thursday and witness the US Men’s soccer team play against rival Mexico in a matchup of two regional powers. For many years, going to Estadio Azteca was a dream of mine, and it finally came through. Let me give you a recap of how the experience of being there in person for the game went down.
First off, it’s important to explain the historic and legendary status Estadio Azteca has in soccer. The stadium was built in the 1960s and quickly hosted important events such as soccer in the 1968 Summer Olympics. Only 2 years later, the stadium hosted games in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, which included the Game of the Century between Italy and West Germany, and the final which featured Pele and possibly the greatest Brazil team of all time win it all in emphatic fashion. 16 years later, the stadium was witness to Diego Maradona’s run through the English defense in spectacular form which resulted in what is known as the Goal of the Century. Maradona led Argentina to the World Cup title two days later. Club wise, Azteca has been home to many teams, but its most famous tenant is Club America, one of the most successful teams in the country and region. Mexico’s national soccer team has enjoyed a good home advantage here due to the implications of being more than 7,000 feet above sea level with pollution causing the opponents to tire quickly, especially when the games are played during the daytime when the Mexico City sun can beat down on you even when it’s not hot.
Leaving Azteca without losing is usually seen as an accomplishment due to this and the fact Mexico rarely loses at home. Throw in the fact that there’s usually more than 80,000 fans screaming at you the whole time, and the stadium appears to be an impenetrable fortress. For many years, US Soccer had no chance of ever getting a positive result there. The first time that happened was in 1997 when the US held Mexico to a scoreless tie despite being a man down most of the game in a World Cup Qualifier for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. The result was a big surprise and the US would have to wait 15 years before getting another positive result down there. In 2012, US surprisingly beat Mexico 1–0 at Azteca for the first and only time ever, albeit in a friendly. The next matchups in World Cup Qualifiers during 2013 and 2017 ended in draws with the latter being an entertaining match that featured two teams going at it without anyone just sitting back and waiting, which the US predictably tended to do.
The matchup on Thursday had many interesting pregame talking points. For one, the US had beaten Mexico in 3 consecutive official matches, with the last one being a decisive 2–0 win in Cincinnati. If Mexico was to lose, which many thought could happen due to their recent lackluster results, head coach Tata Martino was expected to be fired. Additionally, this was likely the last US vs Mexico matchup at Azteca or in World Cup Qualifiers for a long time. For the next World Cup, both teams won’t have to go through the qualifying process since they’re co-hosting. After that, the number of teams that qualify will increase. Rumor has it the qualification process will get changed to the final stage having 2 groups with Mexico and the US getting split into separate groups to help ensure they both qualify for the World Cup as they make the region the most money.
That was the primary reason I decided this was definitely the year I’m going to make the effort to go down there and make it to this game. I’m a member of the American Outlaws, which is one of the supporters’ groups that travels to every US Soccer game or has a watch party at the local bar, which means I have access to when tickets will be available and the packages that get put together to make it easier for fans to travel to these games. Unfortunately, the package sold out quickly but I was still able to get a ticket through Ticketmaster Mexico. Two other supporters’ groups, Sammers SC and Barra 76, also went down to this game with Sammers organizing another package of bus rides to the stadium which allowed us to get there on time, which can be an issue with Mexico City’s traffic. We met up at Hotel Galeria Plaza Reforma and then headed down to Estadio Azteca. Since the coach buses were very nice and had a police escort, many fans waved at us thinking we were the players. Once there, private security along with double the amount of police was waiting to escort us to our section. Azteca has one long ramp that takes you to the upper deck, and walking up in that altitude is no easy task. I thought to myself if this is tough, imagine having to run around for 90 minutes.
Our section was closed off to the rest of the public due to the police presence. We had our own bathrooms and concessions, which meant waiting in long lines for either wasn’t much of a problem. Walking through the tunnel and seeing the lights and field was surreal. It hit me that I was in the same stadium where Pele and Maradona had their greatest moments, and that I was finally going to be able to see the US play their biggest rival in their legendary home stadium. The upper deck wasn’t fully open due to security and pandemic restrictions, so we were pretty far away from the closest fans. While the stadium is enormous and we were high up, the view is amazing and you don’t miss anything because there aren’t any obstructions.
Before the game began, I was worried about how it would unfold. The US was without Weston McKennie, who has been their best and most consistent player during the qualifiers, and someone who seems to love playing against Mexico as he has scored in 2 of the last 3 games against them. Brenden Aaronson missed the game due to injury and the US has usually been at their best when he plays up top with Tim Weah and Ricardo Pepi. The other big question mark is how this team would handle playing at Azteca for the first time, especially since they have struggled on the road throughout these qualifiers. The good news was that Gio Reyna was finally back after struggling to stay on the field due to injuries. When the starting lineups were announced, it was clear coach Gregg Berhalter wasn’t trying to simply sit back and play for a tie, he was trying to win. Mexico made some changes in the backline and didn’t send out Jesus Gallardo, who had the worst game of his life when the US played Mexico in Cincinnati back in November, when Tim Weah ran up and down at will on his side of the field.
Once the game started, Mexico predictably had more possession, but surprisingly faced an early high press from the US. Mexico created the first chance with a preview of how they would attack all night: with predictable crosses. The first opportunity ended up in the hands of US goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who seemed very secure throughout the game. The US once again was dangerous thanks to defender Antonee Robinson joining the attack and he sent a pass that was beyond the reach of Tim Weah, but enough for Yunus Musah to shoot on goal only to have Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa save the shot. Ochoa was busy throughout the night as he would be called to save several shots on goal. Lack of technical accuracy plagued Mexico throughout the night, as there were times when there were many men up on an attack with a promising play but they failed to put together the final touch which was evident when Jesus Manuel Corona received a pass while wide open, only to touch it too long, which allowed Steffen to get the ball and clear it.
Shortly after, Tim Weah got slightly past the Mexican defense and sent in a pass to Christian Pulisic who appeared to have the first goal in his sights, only to shoot right at Ochoa who made an incredible save and sent the ball out for a corner kick. In the stadium, we couldn’t believe Pulisic hadn’t scored, but time and time again, it’s common to see a striker have a wide-open goal but shoot right at the keeper. Another player who was active but appeared off was Mexico’s Hirving Lozano. He had a shot to give Mexico the lead almost right after Pulisic’s chance, but sent a ball way over the goal. The other player who seemed off was Raul Jimenez, which is understandable after his head injury. He was more active in this game than in the first game vs the US in Cincinnati, but he failed to score or help the Mexican cause in the first half.
When the second half began, Christian Pulisic got through the Mexican defense and got a shot off that forced Ochoa to make another big save. That was already 2 point blank saves Ochoa had made to ensure Mexico wasn’t behind in the score. Only 5 minutes later, Lozano was able to get some space and sent a shot that went over the crossbar, but not by much. It was evident both teams were beginning the second half the same they the first ended, which was to continue the back-and-forth affair that at times got stuck in the midfield due to Mexico at times struggling to create anything aside from a predictable cross. The US players for once seemed to be aware of the game plan coach Berhalter set, which appeared to be a temporary press while using the speed and creativity of the backs and wingers. A mistake led to Hirving Lozano getting the ball with a 4 on 3 advantage on the US which looked like it could end in a Mexican goal, but Lozano again failed to finish. He could’ve given the ball to a teammate or shot a rocket, but instead let a weak shot on goal that Steffen easily covered.
The centerback pairing of Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson continues to be pretty solid. Zimmerman had a better game than Robinson as Miles got a yellow card in the first half and appeared to lose a step at times, which can be explained by playing in Mexico City’s altitude. Zimmerman stood his ground when Raul Jimenez ran at him with Lozano to his side, which caused Jimenez to be indecisive and lose the ball instead of either passing or shooting on goal. We were witness to the most infamous moment of the night only 2 minutes later. Ricard Pepi started but was inactive which resulted in him coming off for Jordan Pefok. Gio Reyna had come in the game during the second half, and it appeared he combined with Pefok to give the US the lead after Kellyn Acosta sent in an apparent deadly pass. Reyna left it for Pefok to put it away, but he kicked the ball in the worst way possible and didn’t even get a shot on target. Again, we were couldn’t believe the play didn’t end in a goal and the Mexican fans below us predictably ridiculed our despair.
5 minutes later, Gio Reyna decided he was a man on a mission, He got the ball outside the Mexican box and put on a spectacular dribbling display by running and shaking off 6 Mexican players. If he had scored or had an assist, this would play would’ve easily been the best goal in the qualifiers, but he ended up losing the ball right before he could finish. Mexico made a final push, which saw Lozano fire 2 off target shots, clearly influenced by the stressful situations he and the team were in. Towards the end of the game, the fans turned on their own team as they started booing when they had the ball and didn’t go forward while chanting “Fuera Tata!”, calling for the head coach to get fired. One player I was surprised to not see start was Alexis Vega, as he’s been a lightning rod recently for Mexico with his clutch goals and energetic play. However, he didn’t come until only 10 minutes left in the game, and only had one chance to be involved which is when he dribbled into the box and appealed for a penalty when he fell to the ground, only to receive a yellow card since the referee determined it was a dive. That ended up being the last chance of the game as the referee blew the whistle after 5 minutes of stoppage time, which meant this was the third consecutive tie between the US and Mexico down at Azteca.
While a tie on the road and especially Azteca is good, the fact some of us in the stands and watching on TV were upset the US didn’t win because they had a good chance to do so shows how much growth there’s been with soccer after the catastrophic failure to qualify for the previous World Cup. You can’t just expect to win at home, you also have to expect to win on the road. Now the question, is when will they have another chance to play and win there in an official game again? The Mexicans fans booed when the referee ended the game as not only did they not win, but they again failed to score. Mexico was never really on top of the US and was unable to take advantage of the US’s few mistakes along with failing to create anything consistent or too dangerous. The US seemed overall confident and sure of what they were doing as they only time they had to weather a storm was the predictable one road teams faces at the end of a game.
Despite the fact we were disappointed at not winning, we still celebrated leaving Azteca with 1 point, leaving the US another step closer to qualifying. After the game was over, 2 lines of police kept us waiting about a half hour outside our section for our own safety. Going out to our buses wouldn’t have sped up the process at all since the combination of Mexico City and Azteca traffic meant we would’ve sat on our bus in the parking lot for at least an hour. Once the police got the order to move, we started to head out and found that most fans were gone. The few that were there engaged in friendly and playful banter with us. As we left, even the police and security seemed surprised at the lack of problems between the opposing fans but we were still protected by both lines of police and their vehicles blocking off the section where our 17 buses. Once it was time to head out, police stopped traffic on the freeway to allow us to get back to our hotel a bit quicker. It still took us a while to get back since we hit traffic closer to the hotel, but we ended the night the best way you can in Mexico, at a late-night food joint.
The overall experience was everything I could’ve imagined and more. The only thing I would’ve preferred was a US victory, especially since it was within reach. I can now cross off going to Azteca for this matchup off my bucket list and look forward to next games for the US. The US will now play Panama at home and then close out in Costa Rica. Chances are they will win against Panama and qualify, which will allow them to rest starters for the final game in Costa Rica. Mexico should qualify as their last games are against Honduras and at home against El Salvador. The question is, will coach Tata Martino still be coaching this team if they qualify for the World Cup? I honestly don’t think so as the results aren’t what’s expected and his answers in press conferences leave a lot to be desired. The last 2 games will definitely be exciting as they won’t resolve until the dying minutes. Hold on folks, it’s going to be a wild finish.
