Mexico vs USA: Americans Must Improve on Poor Defensive Performance vs. Jamaica

Though it's easy to get lost in all the hoopla surrounding the United States' exhilarating 1-0 victory over Mexico in Azteca Wednesday night, there is still some major cause for concern going forward for coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

Yes, the Americans winning for the first time against the Mexicans in Mexico is a huge deal. Sure, this could be a massive turning point in the history of American soccer. And if that's the case, most staties will almost assuredly hail substitute defender Michael Orozco Fiscal and goalie Tim Howard as the saviors of U.S. soccer.

But Orozco Fiscal's game-winning goal in the 80th minute and Howard's stand-on-the-head goalkeeping are overshadowing the biggest long-term takeaway for the United States: The team's defense is porous at best.

Without Orozco Fiscal and Howard, the story coming out of Wednesday's United States-Mexico matchup is likely one of a Mexican annihilation.

Playing without most of its Olympic gold medalists, Mexico dominated the Americans in nearly every non-scoreboard facet of the game. The skilled Mexican ball-handlers held possession for two-thirds of the contest, shut out the U.S. 10-0 on corner kicks and shot the ball nine more times than the victor.

The final score looks wonderful and everyone stateside gets to be rightfully celebratory about the team's historic victory. Ending a 75-year drought that spans 24 games is nothing to be scoffed at.

But from the macro perspective, the game has no meaningful significance other than a nice story and a team-wide confidence boost.

As the USMNT heads into its next matchup of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying against Jamaica on Sept. 7, it's important that the team plays with the confidence a win like that adds, but doesn't get cocky.

If Jamaica is able to get off 15 shots against the United States like Mexico was, it's going to be nearly impossible for the Yanks to come out on top. Howard's play at Azteca was something that legends are made of, but it's also not replicable on a consistent basis.

With Klinsmann likely bringing a lineup full of top stars to Kingston for the contest and Jamaica being nowhere near as talented as Mexico, the United States should perform better based on talent disparity alone.

But if the USMNT comes into the matchup against Jamaica overconfident and doesn't work on improving its team defense, a second upset in a month involving the United States could be in store.

The Yanks just won't like this one as much.