Cincinnati's TQL Stadium has taken its place in U.S. men's national soccer team lore as the latest venue to stage a "dos a cero" victory.
The Spanish phrase, which translates to "2-0," was made famous in American soccer circles this century. It's a taunt at Mexico, and a rallying crew against their national team, that was born of multiple 2-0 wins against "El Tri" in World Cup qualifying matches played on U.S. soil once every four years.
TQL Stadium served as the frenzied, colorful stage on Friday for the fifth 2-0 qualifying victory for the USMNT over Mexico before a raucous crowd of 26,000.
Christian Pulisic of English Premier League side Chelsea FC scored the eventual game-winner in the 74th minute.
Weston McKennie, of Italian super-club Juventus, added the second tally in the 85th minute to condemn Mexico to the two-goal deficit that has so haunted it over the years.
The victory allowed the USMNT (4-1-2, 14 points) to move into first place atop an eight-nation group from which the top three teams will advance to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
"The second half is where we started to pull away," U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter said. "Particularly in the first 20 minutes of the second half... That's the effect that we have on opponents when we can press them and we can be that aggressive around the ball and with the ball, turning them around, making them face their own goal, we can make it really challenging.
"Overall, proud of the guys tonight. It's nice to win this game in front of a great crowd in a great stadium and our work is on Jamaica. We focus on that and try to close out the window with three points."
Concacaf World Cup qualifying standings:
1. USMNT (4-1-2, 14 points, plus-seven goal difference)
2. Mexico (4-1-2, 14 points, plus-five)
3. Canada (3-0-4, 13 points)
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4. Panama (3-2-2, 11 points)
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5. Costa Rica (1-3-3, six points)
6. Jamaica (1-3-3, five points)
7. El Salvador (1-3-3, 6 points)
8. Honduras (0-4-3, 3 points)The top three teams advance to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The fourth-place finish plays an intercontinental playoff in order to reach Qatar.
The win was also the USMNT's third consecutive against Mexico this year. The Americans took trophies off Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League and Gold Cup finals in June and August, respectively.
"I think we've earned respect the last couple times we played them," Pulisic said. "They understand what we're about, we understand what they're about. That's what makes a great rivalry and just really happy that we could come out on top again tonight. It's always gonna be a good game against Mexico and to get three points just helps us get a lot closer to qualifying."
The U.S. and Mexico essentially halved possession in the game but the Americans opened the match on the front foot, attacking with zest and ball-hawking when out of possession.
It was Mexico that made better use of its possession, however, as Manchester City FC and U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen was forced into two vital saves early.
Steffen ended the night with four stops in preserving his shutout. He dived to push an Edson Álvarez shot around his right-hand post in the 12th minute.
Hirving Lozano's attempt in the 18th minute was deadened by Steffen's left hand.
Steffen and the entire American defense dodged a bullet in the 31st minute when Jesus "Tecatito" Corona's close-range volley attempt bounced wide of the goal mouth.
Those three chances comprised Mexico's most convincing spell of play.
The second half to come would belong to the Americans, even as matters deteriorated and tempers flared between the rivals – a common sight when the countries meet in men's soccer.
Pulisic entered the match in the 69th minute in favor of Brenden Aaronson, who seemed to have a frustrating evening.
Pulisic's entrance changed the proceedings almost immediately as he scored five minutes after coming on. McKennie doubled the advantage just 11 minutes later.
The scenes in the TQL Stadium grandstand were jubilant. Bodies bounced and arms flailed in celebration amid passing rain showers on a cold night.
The weather was hardly a hindrance given the significance of the win, though.
Friday's match wasn't without its drawbacks for the USMNT.
McKennie was assessed a yellow card, which will result in his suspension for the next game.
Miles Robinson was issued two yellow cards in the match, resulting in an 89th-minute red card. He'll also be suspended for one game.
Berhalter said afterward that he'd look to replace those players on his 25-man roster.
The U.S. closes out its November window of qualifying matches with a Tuesday match against the Jamaican national team at Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica.
"This game (Mexico) is behind us now," Pulisic said. "Like I said, it's huge to help us get three points and now we're first place in the group. To be in this position is unbelievable but we haven't accomplished our ultimate goal yet. Jamaica's going to be a tough match."
Sending a message via Pulisic's shirt
After Pulisic's 74th-minute goal, he lifted up his USMNT jersey to reveal an undershirt with a message written on it, and the Mexicans were the intended recipients.
Pulisic's shirt read "Man In the Mirror," and was clearly a response to comments made earlier in the week by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who told TUDN: "Mexico has been that mirror in which they (the United States) want to see themselves and reflect, what they want to copy,”
Berhalter referenced Ochoa's comment during his Thursday news conference in which he also spoke about his perception of a lack of respect from "El Tri."
Suffice it to say Pulisic took a measure of revenge for himself and the rest of the national team program when he nodded home the eventual game-winner from the doorstep of Ochoa's net.
Pulisic then ran to the corner flag to celebrate with his teammates, and that's where he revealed the black-ink message on his undershirt.
Afterward, Berhalter and Pulisic seemed to downplay the significance of the gesture.
"I think you guys know the message," Pulisic said. "It's not a big thing. I'm not trying to cause controversy. It's just an idea that came into my head."
Pulisic closed his remarks on the subject when he joked that he wrote the message on the shirt while looking in a mirror. The comment elicited laughter from the assembled media.
TQL Stadium shines on international stage
By the end of Friday's game, the party inside TQL Stadium had moved into the streets surrounding the venue.
At field level, Berhalter and U.S. players mostly opted not to talk about the advantages offered to them by the venue after doing so many times in the weeks and months leading up to arriving in Cincinnati.
But nothing more needed to be said. TQL Stadium was a spectacle.
Fans were issued wrist bands upon entering the stadium, and the bands were illuminated and produced a light show prior to and during the match. Fireworks also featured prominently in the pregame festivities, too.
The main concourse housed multiple TV sets. U.S. Soccer-branded banners were plastered on the plain cement facades around the venue, which added additional color and helped to reaffirm that the match was indeed a home game for the U.S.
Representatives from FIFA and high-ranking officials from Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer were in attendance, too. And for them having scene the spectacle that was TQL Stadium, it's easy to imagine other major soccer events being staged in Cincinnati.
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Welcome to Cincinnati.com's live coverage of the U.S. men's national team versus Mexico in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match for the Concacaf region. Refresh this page throughout the match for live updates and analysis, and follow Enquirer FC Cincinnati beat reporter Pat Brennan on Twitter (@PBrennanENQ) for further updates.
In-match updates:
• FINAL: USMNT 2, Mexico 0.
• 85th minute – GOAL, USMNT (2-0): Weston McKinnie.
• 74th minute – GOAL, USMNT (1-0): Christian Pulisic, five minutes after entering the match, nodded home a centering feed from Tim Weah to put the Americans in front.
• HALFTIME: USMNT 0, Mexico 0.
•23rd minute update: USMNT 0, Mexico 0 – Zack Steffen's come up big with two saves so far, and they were necessary. Mexico's found gaps and broken the USMNT press effectively at time
• Match underway at about 9:11 p.m.
Pre-match updates:
• USMNT starting XI (bench): Zack Steffen (GK), DeAndre Yedlin, Walker Zimmerman, Tyler Adams (captain), Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, Brenden Aaronson, Miles Robinson,Tim Weah (Matt Turner (GK), Paul Arriola, Christian Pulisic, Cristian Roldan, Chris Richards, Gianluca Busio, Sebastian Lletget, Mark McKenzie, Jesus Ferreira, Sam Vines, Reggie Cannon, Kellyn Acosta).
More:Why the U.S. men's national team vs. Mexico match matters to Cincinnati
More:Preview, prediction for USMNT vs. Mexico FIFA World Cup qualifier at TQL Stadium
• Mexico starting XI (bench): Guillermo Ochoa (GK, captain), Julio Cesar Dominguez, Edson Alvarez, Luis Romo, Raul Jimenez, Hector Herrera, Jesus Corona, Luis Rodriguez, Jesus Gallardo, Hirving Lozano (Alfredo Talavera (GK), Rodolfo Cota (GK), Osvaldo Rodriguez, Jorge Sanchez, Carlos Rodriguez, Orbelin Pineda, Rogelio Funes Mori, Roberto Alvarado, Hector Moreno, Andres Guardado, Henry Martin, Gilberto Sepulveda).
