October 16, (THEWILL) – The United States football team experienced their first defeat under new coach Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday, falling 2-0 to Mexico in a friendly match. This result ended a seven-game unbeaten streak against their North American rivals dating back to 2019.
Goals from Raul Jimenez and Cesar Huerta sealed the victory for Mexico at the Estadio Akron. The match followed Pochettino’s successful debut on Saturday, where his team earned a 2-0 win against Panama in Austin.
The United States faced challenges with several key players absent. Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie had returned to their clubs, while Tyler Adams, Tim Weah, and Folarin Balogun were unavailable for selection. A last-minute change saw Mark McKenzie withdrawn, with Miles Robinson stepping in to start.
For Mexico, the match held special significance as veteran midfielder Andres Guardado made his final appearance for the national team. The 38-year-old earned his record 182nd cap before being substituted after 18 minutes to a standing ovation from the crowd.
The defeat highlights areas for improvement for Pochettino’s team as they continue their development under new leadership.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
