LOS ANGELES: Second half substitute Christian Pulisic headed home a cross from Timothy Weah to break a scoreless tie and Weston McKennie slotted home another as the young US team beat old rival Mexico 2-0 in World Cup qualifying on Friday.
The US had come out on top in the two most recent meetings between the teams, but the match in Cincinnati was clearly the most important to the US side.
The team is eager to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Qatar and put behind it the humiliating loss it suffered at the hands of Trinidad and Tobago four years ago that kept it from reaching the World Cup in Russia.
With the win, the US and Mexico now both have 14 points to sit atop the Concacaf standings, with the US holding a two point advantage in goal differential.
Canada, which defeated Costa Rica 1-0 on Friday, have 13 points. Panama have 11 and Costa Rica have six to round out the group’s top four.