Mexico and US battle to 1-1 draw

It was a game of two halves Wednesday night in Washington DC as bitter rivals Mexico and the US faced off.  The first half Mexico bossed the game.  Holding a decided edge in possession while the Americans chsed the game.

It was just a matter of time before the goal would come.  Oribe Peralta fired past Tim Howard in the 17th minute and Mexico looked to be on their way.  The US started to gain a foothold in the final 10 minutes of the opening half, but Edson Buddle was completely ineffectual up top.  Lacking the smarts to hold up the play he often found himself hopelessly outnumbered in the attack.  After 45 minutes Mexico led 1-0 and the Americans had generated no shots or corners.

The second half would be different though as new Coach Jurgen Klinsmann pushed the right buttons at the break.  The new leadman introduced three players that completely changed the flow of the game.  Brek Shea, Robbie Rogers and Juan Agudelo flipped the script and suddenly Mexico were on their heels as the US flowed forward seeking the tying goal.

The US almost tied the game early in the 2nd half from a corner kick as Carlos Bocanegra headed from close range.  Only a reflex save from Ochoa.  Agudelo, Shea and Landon Donovan were linking up well as gaps were forming in the Mexico defense.  The tying goal would come in the 73rd as a long throw in found Agudelo who played Brek Shea.  The young FC Dallas winger slid a low ball to the backpost where Robbie Rogers was waiting all alone to tap into the empty net. 

From there it was just a matter of if the US would find the winner.  LAte on it almost came as Robbie Rogers raced behind the Mexico defense latching onto a longball from Agudelo.  He was heading clear on a breakaway until he was grabbed and drug down by Castillo who was certain to see red.  Somehow the Jamaican referee only showed a yellow card to the dismay of everyone involved.  It was about as clear-cut a hard red card as you will ever see. 

The match ended 1-1 and the Klinsmann era is off the a solid start as the Americans clearly left the field feeling good about themselves.

"I think we can be very satisfied with that performance," Klinsmann said. "It was great to see some young players stepping into this team and being guided by the experienced ones. The spirit and the energy from the experienced ones, it's fun to watch. It's enjoyable to see how they go for it."