Jesus Ferreira scored the lone goal in the 1-1 draw between two great rivals, despite the fact that few American players made an impression in an otherwise lackluster international friendly between the two nations.
In the end, nothing separated the United States men’s national soccer team from Mexico. Uriel Antuna scored on one end, while Jesus Ferreira scored on the opposite end. The game ended in a 1-1 tie.
The first Continental Clasico, a game that offered little, has now become a chapter in this historic rivalry that is largely forgettable.
Wednesday’s match was always going to be a one-of-a-kind affair: a midweek exhibition between two CONCACAF powerhouses missing many of their top players. There were plenty of World Cup veterans on both teams, but they were shells of their former selves.
The teams combined for only three passes inside the opponent’s penalty area during the first half. Without a disastrous error from Aaron Long and Kellyn Acosta, the game might have ended scoreless.
Due to Antuna’s goal, it did not. The Mexican forward’s goal not only boosted his confidence, but also inspired the U.S. national team. In a match in which few others made their case, Jesus Ferreira capped the lone effective attacking sequence for the United States, receiving assists from Sergino Dest and Jordan Morris in the buildup. The FC Dallas star will feel better after this match, but few of his comrades will share his sentiment.
Thankfully, these two teams will meet at least once more this season with significantly higher stakes. The June Nations League match between these two teams will provide a much more accurate assessment of their respective standings.