U.S. U-23 Blanks Mexico 2-0 in Tune-up for Olympic Qualifying

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Juan Agudelo and Mix Diskerud scored back-to-back first-half goals in a span of a little more than one minute as the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team defeated Mexico’s U-23 National Team 2-0 during Wednesday’s international friendly at FC Dallas Stadium. 

It was the U.S. U-23 squad’s first international match since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and U-23 head coach Caleb Porter’s team had an assertive effort against Mexico as it prepares for CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying in late March. 

“We knew this match would be a challenge and we have much respect for Mexico as a soccer playing country,” said Porter. “One of the reasons we wanted to play this game prior to qualifying was to get some questions answered and measure ourselves. I’m very proud of the guys and looking forward to qualifying.” 

Agudelo started the scoring with a header off of a set piece in the 35th minute as Diskerud delivered the corner kick from the left side. Agudelo headed the ball toward the left side of the goal frame as Mexico goalkeeper Liborio Sanchez and a defender were in the area. The shot squeezed in between both Mexico players and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. 

Diskerud then gave the U.S. a 2-0 cushion in the 36th minute as he slightly redirected Freddy Adu’s strike from distance and the ball found the inside of the right post. It appeared the goal was Adu’s from 26 yards out, but closer inspection showed that it was Diskerud who stuck his right foot backwards and put a slight touch on the ball before it found the net. 

Porter’s side went with a 4-3-3 formation, and the U-23s demonstrated some good attacking moments and spells of strong possession. There was a two-minute stretch from the 14th to 16th minutes when Mexico could not get a touch on the ball. 

Even when the U.S. was not getting shots on goal, the team was hovering inside the box. In the 49th minute alone, Agudelo and Joe Corona both had strong opportunities for a shot on net but both players took one too many touches as Mexico’s defense cleared on both occasions. 

Mexico had a difficult time creating scoring chances in the early going, but in the 22nd minute Ricardo Bocanegra hit a deep volley from more than 20 yards out that was bound for the left side of the goal frame. U.S. goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who earned a shutout earlier this year with the U.S. Men’s National Team against Venezuela, was up to the task as he dove to his right to make the clutch save. 

Porter took the opportunity to give some of his second-half subs significant playing time. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who played in the second half of the senior team’s 1-0 victory against Panama earlier this year, played the second 45 minutes on Wednesday night. Johnson was tested in the 62nd minute, reacting well for a save against Mexico’s Ricardo Mier, who headed the ball toward the net off of a Javier Aquino corner kick. 

The U.S. defense caught a break in the 72nd minute when USA defender Zarek Valentin came into contact with Mexico’s Marco Fabian in the box. Fabian went down to the ground, and referee Dave Gantar rushed in to show Fabian a yellow card for diving. 

Porter switched up his three-man front line in the second half. U.S. starters Agudelo, Adu and Joe Gyau were substituted out in place of Teal Bunbury, Tony Taylor and Dilly Duka. 

With the U.S. U-23 team’s win, it completed a Leap Day tripleheader sweep for U.S. Soccer. Earlier in the day, the U.S. Women’s National Team blanked Denmark 5-0 to open the Algarve Cup, followed by the U.S. Men’s National Team that earned its first victory against Italy with a 1-0 decision in Genoa. 

The U.S. U-23 MNT now looks forward to 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying, with the group stages taking place March 22-26 at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. The U-23s face Cuba at 9 p.m. ET on March 22. 

— U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team Game Report — 

Match: U-23 Men’s National Team vs. Mexico 
Date: Feb. 29, 2012 
Competition: International Friendly 
Venue: FC Dallas Stadium – Frisco, Texas 
Kickoff: 9 p.m. CT 
Attendance: 7,432 
Weather: 70 degrees, balmy 

Scoring Summary:    1          2          F 
USA                 2          0          2 
MEX                 0          0          0 

USA – Juan Agudelo (Mix Diskerud)             35th minute 
USA – Mix Diskerud (Freddy Adu)               36 

Lineups: 
USA: 1-Bill Hamid (18-Sean Johnson, 46); 3-Kofi Sarkodie, 2-Ike Opara (capt.), 4-Perry Kitchen, 5-Zarek Valentin; 6-Alfredo Morales (19-Amobi Okugo, 90), 8-Mix Diskerud, 10-Joe Corona; 7-Freddy Adu (17-Tony Taylor, 67), 9-Juan Agudelo (12-Teal Bunbury, 61), 11-Joe Gyau (14-Dilly Duka, 78) 
Subs not used: 13-Jorge Villafana, 15-Jack McInerney, 16-Sebastian Lletget, 20-Michael Stephens 
Head Coach: Caleb Porter 

MEX : 1-Liborio Sanchez, 2-Israel Jimenez, 4-Nestor Araujo, 5-Darvin Chávez, 6-Ricardo Bocanegra (17-Javier Aquino, 46), 7-Javier Cortés, 9-Jeronimo Amione (19-Alan Pulido, 64), 10-Marco Fabian, 14-Jorge Enriquez (8-David Cabrera, 78), 16-Miguel Ponce (18-Hector Herrera, 46), 21-Ricardo Mier (capt.) 
Subs not used: 11-Nestor Calderon, 12-Antonio Rodriguez, 13-Diego Reyes, 15-Jair Barraza, 20-Hugo Rodriguez, 
Head coach: Luis Fernando Tena 

Stats Summary: USA / MEX                                   
Shots: 16 / 20 
Shots on Goal: 6 / 8 
Saves: 8 / 4 
Corner Kicks: 3 / 6 
Fouls: 15 / 10 
Offside: 1 / 0 

Misconduct Summary: 
USA – Freddy Adu    38th minute 
MEX – Marco Fabian 73 

Officials : 
Referee: Dave Gantar (CAN) 
Assistant Referee 1: Phil Briere (CAN) 
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Belleau (CAN) 
Fourth Official: Armando Villarreal (USA) 

ussoccer.com Man of the Match: Juan Agudelo