- US soccer loses 2-0 to Mexico in friendly match
- Mauricio Pochettino suffers first defeat as US manager
- Mexico ends US's 7-match unbeaten streak
Mauricio Pochettino experienced his first loss as head coach of the United States men’s national team, falling 2-0 to Mexico in a friendly match.
The former Chelsea manager, 52, began his tenure with a promising 2-0 victory over Panama on Sunday. However, the team faced an early setback in their latest outing in Guadalajara.
“It wasn’t a great performance, but this type of game is perfect for us to learn,” Pochettino remarked after the match. “Overall, I think Mexico were a little bit better than us and fully deserved the victory. But for us, it is a process.”
The match, held at Estadio Akron, saw Mexico take the lead midway through the first half, thanks to a stunning free-kick from Fulham striker Raul Jimenez that curled into the top corner. Cesar Huerta later extended Mexico’s lead, securing a vital win for the hosts, who had faced criticism from fans after a disappointing 2-2 draw against Spanish club Valencia last week.
The U.S. team, missing key players such as Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, and Weston McKennie, struggled offensively, managing only one shot on target throughout the match.
This defeat also marked the end of the United States’ seven-match unbeaten streak against Mexico. The match served as a farewell for Mexico’s most-capped player, Andres Guardado, who was substituted in the 19th minute to a standing ovation, concluding his international career with a total of 182 caps.
