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| In his first USMNT start Matt Besler brought the kind of intensity, physicality and composure that's been missing from the U.S. back line (Credits: Maxsport) |
Mexico's Estadio Azteca is equivalent to hell on earth, for opponents that is. It's a towering, imposing edifice filled with savages who cheer on their team in the most violent and ravaging ways. They don't care too much for sportsmanship or even humanity for that matter. However when the opponent is the Mexican's heated rival the United States, the place becomes void of rules. If the fans weren't behind two massive steel cage walls, they'd probably storm the pitch and kill everyone in a U.S. jersey. But the United States has begun to understand how the Azteca works. They're grasping the idea of the buzzing beehive that is the Mexican crowd and they've learned how to use that vicious beast to their advantage.
Tuesday night was no different from any of the other recent contests the United States have played in Azteca. They were constantly on their back heels, rarely getting a solid possession nor many quality shots on goal. Yet, unlike the past the Americans didn't wither under the constant Mexican pressure. They didn't let the crowd break them mentally, letting the bags of urine fly without an ounce of notice. Actually, if you really paid attention to the game, the Americans played with more composure then I've ever seen them play on the road against anyone.
Calling America's play last night "physical" might be an understatement. They might not have dominated the possession, or had Mexico on their heels, but they took El Tri's speedy strikers off their game almost immediately. In the seventh minute, veteran DeMarcus Beasley watched Javier Aquino sail right by him on a beautiful ball, but instead of letting him cruise by into the box, Beasley threw a shoulder into his back. From the git-go, Mexico needed to realize they weren't going to get anything easily. American wasn't backing down this time. Yes, the Mexicans did get a dangerous free kick out of it, but nothing materialized. Following up Beasley's physicality was Matt Besler, who put together one of the best (and most promising) first caps I've ever seen out of a center back. In the 20th minute Besler was poised to stop speedster Giovanni Dos Santos from going on a goal-producing run. As he began approaching Dos Santos, Besler knocked him off his run by just bumping him. Another yellow card for an American defender, but that was more a good sign than an impending issue. The Mexicans, only 20 minutes in, were thoroughly rattled.
They continued to have chance after chance, the crowd grew more tense, groaning loudly due to their squad's lack of finishing. With a little help from the officials, the Americans had disrupted the Mexican rhythm. There was unity in the back line and goalkeeper Brad Guzan once again proved my theory right; the Americans would be just fine without Timmy Howard. This was an especially important performance if you realize that the combo of Besler and Omar Gonzalez played an almost perfect game in the center and only two games ago were we clamoring about how atrocious the backline looked. Anyways, you knew that the Americans would bring their heart and effort. That was a given. But, their cool, calm, collected nature was a truly beautiful sight to see.
I know for a lot of people a tie looks like a mediocre result, particularly when there's all this talk about U.S. Soccer taking the next step. But, they more than got the job done by grabbing only their second competitive point in their history of playing at Azteca. They're ahead of Mexico, who's in somewhat dire straits with only three points, and in solid position to cruise to the finish line. Most importantly, they've won and tied in their last two contests in Mexico. Is the mystique of Azteca wearing off? Maybe. Is the fear of Azteca disappearing? Definitely. The Americans aren't afraid anymore when they step into the hostile confines of Azteca. And if you take their physicality and composure as a sign of confidence, then Tuesday's game could completely alter the structure of CONCACAF play.
One point usually doesn't mean much, but for the Americans one point in Azteca means everything.
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