Mexico tops United States 3-2 in thrilling CONCACAF Cup

Paul Aguilar's strike lifted Mexico to a 3-2 extra time triumph in a gripping Confederations Cup playoff that will be remembered for as long as the Americans and El Tri play the sport.

PASADENA, Calif.—Paul Aguilar scored a goal for the ages to end a game for the ages.

The Mexico defender, who had been a thorn in the U.S.'s left side all evening at a sold-out Rose Bowl, latched on to a high, speculative pass from Raúl Jiménez in the 118th minute and hit a thunderous volley past Brad Guzan and inside the left post. The strike lifted Mexico to a 3-2 extra time triumph in a gripping Confederations Cup playoff that will be remembered for as long as the Americans and El Tri play the sport.

With a berth in the 2017 tournament at stake, players on both teams gave their all on a sweltering Pasadena evening. Mexico took the leadtwice and the U.S. recovered and equalizedtwice. When substitute forward Bobby Wood—the hero of the friendly wins over the Netherlands and Germany—scored in the 108th minute, it seemed as if penalty kicks would be needed to end an epic affair. But Aguilar’s moment of brilliance highlighted the genuine difference in skill between the two sides and was a game-winner befitting the occasion.

• USA vs. MEXICO: All of SI.com's CONCACAF Cup playoff coverage

The result ended the Americans six-game unbeaten streak over Mexico. El Tri’s previous win over the U.S. also came at the Rose Bowl (the 4-2 triumph in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup final) and it was just as gut-wrenching.

Here are three thoughts from a memorable evening in Southern California:

1. This was a dark day for American soccer

It’s up for debate whether Saturday was the worst day in U.S. soccer history. But the fact that there should be a conversation about it illustrates just how miserable it was.

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The heartbreaking defeat at the Rose Bowl, combined with the Under-23 national team’s 2-0 loss to Honduras in an Olympic qualifier in Sandy, Utah, puts the program in position to miss two tournaments that U.S. Soccer believes are critical for the growth of the game. The Confederations Cup and the Olympics provide vital development and marketing opportunities. The U.S. will miss the former in Russia, losing out on an opportunity to face strong teams from outside CONCACAF in official competition while getting a sneak peak at the World Cup host. And unless the U-23s defeat Canada on Tuesday and then Colombia in a March playoff, the U.S. will miss the Olympics for a second straight time.

To face both defeats on the same day is a blow. Saturday now rivals May 31, 1985, when the U.S. lost to Costa Rica, 1-0, in a home World Cup qualifier it needed only to tie and was eliminated from the 1986 World Cup. The Americans had their best chance to qualify in more than 30 years because Mexico was the host, and that match occurred about a month after the original NASL shut down.

None of this reflects well on U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who’s in charge of the senior team and as technical director, has oversight of the entire men’s program. But it also sets the U.S. back. American pros now won’t get official games against top teams until the 2018 World Cup, at the earliest.

2. Facing high stakes, U.S. searches for its comfort zone

It’s unknown whether the U.S. ever will be able to make Klinsmann’s ambition for consistently proactive, possession soccer a reality, and there have been times over the past couple of years when it seemed the manager was more interested in chasing that ambition than putting his players in position to succeed on the day.

Frustrated by Honduras, USA misses Olympic qualifying chance

To Klinsmann’s credit, he set those big-picture goals aside on Saturday and let his men play from as close to comfort zone as they could manage against a dangerous opponent. As a result, the playoff was much closer than many thought it might be. The American back four of DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, Geoff Cameron and Fabian Johnson played together during the World Cup and after Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández’s opener, the quartet frequently managed to force El Tri into wider, less threatening areas with compactness and communication. Mexico always was going to create chances here and there thanks to its skill and advantage in possession, but this was still one of the more competent 90-minute showings by a U.S. back four this year. That, along with Mexico’s off night in the penalty area, goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s heroics and a couple of penalty kick appeals that went unanswered by referee Joel Aguilar, kept the game close.

Kyle Beckerman, Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley clogged the middle and quieted Gold Cup MVP Andrés Guardado, who had been battling an ankle injury and departed in the second half. Although Bradley had to sit a bit deeper than a typical player at his position in a 4-4-2, his influence was significant and he was able to link with forward Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore on occasion. Altidore came close to scoring twice. He redirected a cross from Gyasi Zardes just over the crossbar in the 40th and forced a save from Moisés Muñoz with a 51st- minute thunderbolt. Bradley was the beneficiary of a fine Dempsey entry pass in the 32nd but rolled his shot just wide of right post.

Paul Aguilar volleys in extra time game-winner for Mexico vs. U.S.

Mexico’s narrow attack occasionally left the wide areas open to the U.S. counter, and it was there that the ageless Beasley earned the first-half free kick that led to Cameron’s equalizer. It was the defender’s second U.S. goal. More speed may have helped create additional American chances, but Klinsmann was reluctant to mess with his team’s shape until Mexico started to tire. Then, Yedlin was introduced.

A reliance on intangibles, resolute defending, counterattacks and set pieces—this is the soccer Klinsmann wanted to steer the U.S. away from playing. He’s been criticized for the fact that he’s been unable to do so after four years in charge. But for a night, against a more technical and skillful opponent that dominated the ball, it was necessary. And it nearly paid off.

3. The U.S. still can’t match Mexico’s skill

As it was in the 2011 Gold Cup final and against Belgium in the World Cup’s round-of-16, so it was on Saturday. All the effort, hustle and organization a team can muster can’t match up to pure attacking skill.

Oribe Peralta gives Mexico 2–1 lead over U.S. with extra-time goal

Mexico’s front three of Chicharito, Jiménez and Oribe Peralta is creative and dangerous. Even when they seemed stifled, they were a threat to change the game in an instant. Even though Guardado wasn’t as influential, he’s still a better playmaker than anyone the U.S. can field, while Aguilar and left back Miguel Layún were threatening on the overlap. This is a team that often is less than the sum of its parts, just as the U.S. can be more. But there’s little doubt the skill is there and on Saturday, it made the difference. Mexico won the possession battle, 63.4%-36.6% and outshot the U.S. by a 23-14 margin. This is the sort of soccer Klinsmann hopes the U.S. will play one day.

Mexico’s opening goal was indicative. The Americans are still a ways away from pulling off a play like that in a game of this magnitude. Peralta’s brilliant and timely dummy pulled Besler out of position, and he ran into the space behind Beasley to collect a pass from Jiménez. Chicharito timed his run perfectly, shook free of Johnson and deposited Peralta’s cross past a helpless Guzan. It was surgical, instantaneous and spectacular.

Klinsmann’s U.S. wasn’t there yet. Whether he’s given the time to get there, or whether he’s even capable, is unknown. But on Saturday, the distance he still has to take his team was clear. Mexico was the deserving winner.

GALLERY: USA vs. Mexico through the years

USA vs. Mexico Soccer

November 11, 2016 – Mexico 2, USA 1

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

USA and Mexico players watch Rafa Marquez's 89th-minute header find the net in a famous World Cup qualifying win in Columbus for El Tri.

October 10, 2015 – Mexico 3, USA 2 (AET)

Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Jermaine Jones falls to his knees in disappointment as Mexico celebrates after Paul Aguilar's sensational volley in extra time captured the CONCACAF Cup for El Tri and sends the U.S. rival to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

April 15, 2015 — USA 2, Mexico 0

Scott Kane/Icon Sportswire

Stanford University's Jordan Morris marked his first senior national team start with his first international goal, sparking the USA in another 2-0 triumph over Mexico, this one at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

September 10, 2013 — USA 2, Mexico 0

Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire

Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan scored second-half goals to beat El Tri by the same score for the fourth consecutive qualifier in Columbus, Ohio.

March 26, 2013 — USA 0, Mexico 0

Hector Vivas/LatinContent/Getty Images

Clint Dempsey captained the U.S. to a 0-0 draw at Estadio Azteca, the second time ever the Americans registered a point in World Cup qualifying in Mexico (the other a 1997 tie). Defenders Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler were the stars as Mexico couldn't cash in on several opportunities. The U.S. escaped to remain in second place in CONCACAF qualifying.

August 15, 2012 — USA 1, Mexico 0

Miguel Tovar/Getty Images

It took 25 attempts, but after this friendly, the United States could finally say that it had won at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium. Despite being outplayed for most of the match, the U.S. won thanks to an 80th-minute goal from Michael Orozco Fiscal — the first international goal of his career.

August 10, 2011 — USA 1, Mexico 1

Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's U.S. debut got off to a rough start, as the Americans trailed Mexico, 1-0 after an uninspired first half in Philadelphia. The U.S. showed more verve after halftime, though, and an impressive display from Brek Shea and a 73rd-minute goal from Robbie Rogers led to a 1-1 draw.

June 25, 2011 — Mexico 4, USA 2

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

In the Gold Cup final, Mexico captured its second straight title in the battle for CONCACAF bragging rights and secured a berth in the 2013 Confederations Cup. Pablo Barrera scored twice; Giovani Dos Santos and Andres Guardado also had goals. The U.S. was up 2-0 early on Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan goals, but poor defending (partially due to the loss of Steve Cherundolo by injury) doomed the Americans.

August 12, 2009 — Mexico 2, USA 1

Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire

The U.S. took its first-ever lead at Azteca Stadium, but went on to lose 2-1 in what was a critical World Cup qualifier for Mexico. The win changed the tide for the then-struggling Mexican squad, as it went on to go 3-0-1 in its next four matches to earn a trip to South Africa. The U.S. still went on to finish first in CONCACAF qualification.

July 26, 2009 — Mexico 5, USA 0

Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images

Mexico put an emphatic end to the Americans' 9-0-2 home streak against "El Tri." The Mexicans took the Gold Cup from the two-time defending champion, with five different players scoring goals in the second half at Giants Stadium.

February 11, 2009 — USA 2, Mexico 0

David E. Klutho

Two goals from Michael Bradley gave the U.S. another home victory over Mexico. It marked the eleventh consecutive time that the Americans had gone unbeaten against Mexico when playing on U.S. soil.

June 24, 2007 — USA 2, Mexico 1

John Biever

Down 1-0, second-half goals from Landon Donovan and Benny Feilhaber gave the U.S. the victory in the 2007 Gold Cup finals. The win earned the Americans a spot in the 2009 Confederations Cup, where they achieved their famous upset over Spain.

September 3, 2005 — USA 2, Mexico 0

David Bergman

A 2-0 victory over "El Tri" clinched a spot in the 2006 World Cup, with goals coming from Steve Ralston and DaMarcus Beasley.

May 8, 2003 — USA 0, Mexico 0

Josh Merwin

In their first meeting since the 2002 World Cup, an all-MLS squad of Americans played Mexico to a 0-0 draw in front of more than 69,000 people in Houston.

June 17, 2002 — USA 2, Mexico 0

Pascal Guyot/AFP/Getty Images

Arguably the biggest win in U.S. soccer team history came against its archrivals at the 2002 World Cup. Brian McBride and Landon Donovan gave the Americans a 2-0 victory in South Korea to send their team to the quarterfinals. It is the furthest stage the team has reached in the World Cup since 1930.

July 1, 2001 — Mexico 1, USA 0

Jose Luis Magana/AP

Needing a win to stay in contention for the 2002 World Cup, the Mexicans won 1-0 at Azteca Stadium, making their record 21-0-1 when hosting the Americans.

February 28, 2001 — USA 2, Mexico 0

Damian Strohmeyer

For the first time ever, the Americans won their third consecutive game against Mexico. The victory came in the World Cup qualifying finals and was held in Columbus, Ohio.

August 1, 1999 — Mexico 1, USA 0

Matias Recart/AFP/Getty Images

Cuauhtemoc Blanco's goal in extra time eliminated the U.S. in the semifinals of the 1999 Mexico City Confederations Cup. The win capped off a long tradition of Mexican dominance over the American side, a streak that shortly thereafter ended, as the Americans won the next three matches against their rivals.

July 17, 1995 — USA 0, Mexico 0

Daniel Muzio/AP

The USA outlasted Mexico in a penalty shootout to reach the semifinals of the 1995 Copa America. After a 0-0 draw, goalkeeper Brad Friedel was the hero in PKs, making two saves. The U.S. made all four of its attempts and advanced.

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