KVSP 
The United States men’s national team went to Estadio Azteca on Thursday and came away with a valuable point in World Cup qualifying, drawing Mexico 0-0. The Americans were the better team and had the best chances, but precision was off for both teams as neither could find the net at crucial moments to get the win. Both teams remain in great position to qualify for the 2022 World Cup
But how did each player perform in this one? Here are our player ratings for the match for every starter, substitute and manager.
All ratings are out of 10, and the higher the number the better. A zero would be a first-minute red card. A 10 would be a dominant hat trick.
USMNT ratings
|
(GK) Zack Steffen |
90 |
Credit to the defense as Steffen didn’t have much to do on the night. He only had to make two saves but all a keeper can do is what was asked of him. An easy night in net for the currebt US number one. |
7 |
|
(DEF) Antonee Robinson |
90 |
Robinson had a great night frustrating Hirving Lozano. A team-high three tackles won and eight recoveries, Robinson did a good job keeping his composure when it was evident that he was tired out there in the closing moments. It’s clear that he’s growing up right before our eyes |
8 |
|
(DEF) Miles Robinson |
90 |
Robinson had a shaky start to the game picking up an early yellow card but was able to settle in and finish things well. A rock in the air, he ensured that Raul Jimenez couldn’t get anything going on the day. |
7 |
|
(DEF) Walker Zimmerman |
90 |
A day where you don’t say a center-back’s name is a good one and Zimmerman showed why John Brooks was left at home. Calm, collected, and composed, he naviagted a trick situation against Jimenez in the box where many defenders would have given away a penalty, but not Zimmerman. |
8 |
|
(DEF) DeAndre Yedlin |
80 |
All things considered, a solid shift from Yedlin when he likely wasn’t slated to start the match. He picked up an early yellow card that will see him miss the Panama match, but even with his wayward passing, it was a fine performance where he didn’t hurt the team. |
6 |
|
(MID) Kellyn Acosta |
90 |
A lot was asked of Acosta Thursday replacing Weston McKennie and he delivered… sort of. His 64 percent passing accuracy shows why the United States had trouble advancing the ball up the pitch at times but that rose to a team-high 85 percent in the final third. He created two chances and did well delivering set plays. |
7 |
|
(MID) Tyler Adams |
80 |
Minutes piling up may be beginning to hurt Adams as he was shaky in possession at the end of the match. Adams was great at directing pressure to where his defenders wanted it but didn’t live up to his own lofty standards. |
6 |
|
(MID) Yunus Musah |
90 |
He had a great chance to open the game as Antonee Robinson’s cross found his feet to force a save out of Ochoa but struggled carrying the ball forward during the match. But if this is what a bad match for Musah looks like, sign me up for him to be a nailed-on starter in this team. |
5 |
|
(FWD) Christian Pulisic |
84 |
Not at his sharpest on the night Pulisic spent most of the match isolated and on his two shots on target, Ochoa was there to deny him. On another day he at least has a goal from a point-blank first half chance, but not Thursday. |
7 |
|
(FWD) Tim Weah |
60 |
Created a great chance for Pulisic and expended a lot of energy putting in a good shift on the wing. Unfortunately, he’ll be suspended for Panama due to a yellow card that I still can’t figure out what the infraction was for. |
7 |
|
(FWD) Ricardo Pepi |
60 |
Pepi looked like a struggling forward out there. While he created a good chance by playing the ball to Weah, Pepi was mostly anonymous in a big chance to take hold of the forward position. |
6 |
|
Jordan Pefok |
Pepi 60′ |
Pefok had a golden chance to not only win the game but to also put his name atop the forward charts and put his shot from point-blank range on the corner flag. Disappointing showing. |
3 |
|
Gio Reyna |
Weah 60′ |
In only 30 minutes, Reyna gave us what should’ve been a game winning assist as well as the most exciting attacking play of the match as he danced through defenders. The most talented player in the pool, Reyna showed just how much the US has missed him during this qualifying cycle. |
8 |
|
Aaron Long |
Adams 80′ |
Wasn’t asked to do much but kept things tidy sliding into a back three while under pressure. |
7 |
| Erik Palmer-Brown | Yedlin 80′ | Was positionally unaware being put in at right wing back but that wasn’t his fault as a natural center back/ defensive midfielder. Good job in adverse conditions. | 7 |
| Jordan Morris | Pulisic 84′ | Mostly a sub for fresh legs there wasn’t much of note as Morris defended well in his short time on the pitch. | 6 |
|
Gregg Berhalter |
5 |
Berhalter didn’t expect to be down a right back coming into the match so his hands were tied. Given that his team created three big chances and should’ve won the match, it’s hard to knock his performance but I do wonder why Musah wasn’t withdrawn. He did acknowledge knowing the Panama score so maybe his eyes were already on Sunday. |
8 |
Mexico ratings
|
(GK) Guillermo Ochoa |
90 |
The veteran was fantastic, making four saves, including a couple of clutch ones. He was smart, led his side and put together a fine display. |
8 |
|
(DEF) Jorge Sanchez |
90 |
Led his team in tackles but did not look sharp in the air. He had cover behind him and was fairly effective, but his decision making was suspect at times. |
6 |
|
(DEF) Cesar Montes |
90 |
Really good headed chance in the first half and was a rock defensively. He was always willing to sacrifice his body. |
7 |
|
(DEF) Johan Vasquez |
90 |
The young talent looked a little under prepared. He had some OK moments but at times was a bit confused it seems. His passing out of the back also wasn’t good enough. |
5 |
|
(DEF) Gerardo Arteaga |
90 |
Really struggled on the wing defensively and was beaten time and time again. Needed assistance from his center-backs to get out of trouble. |
4 |
|
(MID) Edson Alvarez |
90 |
The passing was decent, but defensively he struggled. He picked up a silly yellow card, got schooled a couple times and just wasn’t at his best. |
5 |
|
(MID) Hector Herrera |
90 |
Always on the ball and looking to play over the top, he completed 94.1 percent of his passes and created two chances. He did not get to try a shot on frame though as he sat back. |
6 |
|
(MID) Carlos Rodriguez |
90 |
His passing was always to feet and quality, but the balls in weren’t threatening. His passing was rather low key and didn’t contribute much to the attacking creativity. |
5 |
|
(FWD) Jesus Corona |
90 |
Lively on the right, showing patience but also precision. He did not record a shot though, however, missing his best opportunity at one with a horrendous touch. |
5 |
|
(FWD) Raul Jimenez |
90 |
The team’s starting striker didn’t even record a shot. That’s shocking. He drifted wide a bit too much and never got going thanks to a strong American defense. |
4 |
|
(FWD) Hirving Lozano |
90 |
Was able to get a solid look 30 minutes in but sliced it terribly. He had at on of chances, recording seven, six more than anybody else, but his precision was off and saw Steffen deny him on one great one. |
5 |
|
Erick Gutierrez |
Rodriguez (79′) |
A positive addition, getting the ball out wide quickly to try and get a late chance. |
6 |
|
Alexis Vega |
Corona (79′) |
Tried to draw a penalty by diving, and he would have been better served just getting the ball across the face of goal. Costly. |
4 |
|
Tata Martino |
2 |
Didn’t make enough subs, didn’t switch things up enough, and the fans were chanting for his dismissal. That sounds like a not-so-good night. |
3 |
