USA vs. Mexico: Winners and Losers from International Friendly
The United States men's national team defeated Mexico by the famous 2-0 score once again on Wednesday night in San Antonio, Texas.
Jordan Morris and Juan Agudelo netted a goal each for the Yanks, who remained undefeated in contests against El Tri under manager Jurgen Klinsmann.
The victory marked the ninth time in history that the USMNT downed Mexico by a 2-0 final result.
Here's a look at the winners and losers from the USMNT's second win of 2015.
Winner: Jordan Morris
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Jurgen Klinsmann unexpectedly started Morris on Wednesday night, but he proved to be capable of scoring against the Yanks' biggest rival.
After putting in a strong shift in the first half, Morris slotted in the first goal of the match in the 49th minute. The Stanford sophomore put the ball through Mexico goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo's legs and raced toward the right sideline in an emphatic celebration.
The goal justified Klinsmann's decision to start the youngster, and it started the conversation about the forward depth behind Jozy Altidore. If Morris continues to impress over the next few months, he could earn a spot on the Gold Cup roster.
"You jump for joy because that's what you feel for this guy," Klinsmann said about Morris after the match.
Loser: San Antonio Groundskeepers
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With a spotty pitch on display in San Antonio, it was inevitable that someone would succumb to the bad surface at some point.
In the 60th minute, Kyle Beckerman went down with a non-contact injury in his own half. The defensive midfielder, who had a strong game leading up to the injury, was immediately removed from the pitch in favor of Perry Kitchen.
The Real Salt Lake player was diagnosed with a left thigh contusion, per the Fox Sports 1 broadcast. However, the pictures from the bench showed Beckerman with ice on his knee.
Despite the grim reaction from many at the time of the injury, Beckerman tweeted after the victory that he will be fine.
Winner: Luis Montes
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One of the few Mexican players who shined on Wednesday night was Luis Montes, who featured in his first game since breaking his leg before the World Cup.
The El Tri captain for the match found pockets of space on a consistent basis in the final third as Mexico searched for a goal. Despite failing to challenge Nick Rimando or William Yarbrough in the United States' net, Montes displayed how dangerous he can be in promising situations.
With a busy summer schedule coming up, manager Miguel Herrera will need all the healthy bodies he can get. Montes provided him with another name to add to a long list of potential players for the Gold Cup and Copa America.
Loser: Erick "Cubo" Torres
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While the young American forwards were busy starring in their new roles, Erick "Cubo" Torres disappointed in 90 minutes up top for El Tri.
The USMNT defensive duo of Ventura Alvarado and Omar Gonzalez silenced the 22-year-old for most of the match. Although some credit must be given to the United States center-backs for their performances, Torres must also be criticized for his inability to adapt.
While he will get a few more chances to remain in Herrera's good graces, Torres is facing quite the competition for roster places this summer on the El Tri roster. If he can finish his loan spell at Chivas de Guadalajara in strong fashion, Torres will get another chance to prove he can be a reliable forward for Mexico.
Winner: Michael Bradley
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After watching Michael Bradley shine in an advanced role for the Yanks on Wednesday night, it's hard to criticize Klinsmann for playing him as a No. 10 at the international level. Bradley was involved in both United States goals, and he looked comfortable for the second consecutive match in his role behind the forwards.
In the 49th minute, Bradley's creative play in the middle of the park started the move forward that eventually resulted in Morris' first-ever international strike. On Agudelo's 72nd-minute goal, Bradley lofted a perfect pass to the feet of the striker before he darted in toward the box and unleashed the shot that produced the second tally of the night.
Because he had good protection in the form of Beckerman and then Perry Kitchen, Bradley did not have to concern himself with tracking back as a last-ditch defender as much as he has in the past. Now that we've seen what he can do with young players in front of him, the next test for Bradley will be thriving in this role when Clint Dempsey and Altidore are back in the squad.
Winner: Omar Gonzalez
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Plenty of players are worthy of this final nod, including Mix Diskerud, Agudelo and Alvarado, but we decided to single out Gonzalez in a positive fashion here. Coming off a strong 90-minute shift against Seattle on Sunday, he held firm at the back and limited El Tri to only a few dangerous possessions in the final third.
Gonzalez was also very visible on set pieces in the area in front of the Mexico net. Although he did not create a goal with his aerial ability, the LA Galaxy center-back proved he can be a force when called upon during set pieces.
Thanks to his solid match at the back, Gonzalez once again threw his name into the crowded center-back conversation that he had drifted out of a bit over the last few months. If he continues his steady form in the buildup to the two June friendlies, he might have a shot at a starting role at the Gold Cup.
Klinsmann noted in his press conference following the victory that Gonzalez and Alvarado had strong matches.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
