Mauricio Pochettino doesn’t make many changes to his starting XI on Tuesday (10:30 p.m. ET) as he gets his first taste of the US-Mexico rivalry south of the border.
[ RECAP: USMNT 2-0 Panama: USA perfect in the Pochettino era | Player ratings ]
After beating Panama 2-0 on Saturday in his debut as USMNT head coach, Pochettino promptly released five players, including Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, to return to their clubs. Pulisic’s departure is due to load management, having already logged more than 700 minutes for AC Milan in the young season. With six goals and two assists in nine games, it’s no wonder Pulisic is feeling some tension. McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, Zack Steffen and Marlon Fossey would not be available for Mexico due to minor injuries.
[ MORE: Three things we learned from Pochettino’s USMNT debut ]
The question now is: can they create enough chances with Pulisic out of the team, when much of what they did well in the final third against Panama went right through the 26-year-old superstar? Yunus Musah is likely to be deployed as a wide player – a tactical adjustment he relished when greeting Pochettino on Saturday – with Brenden Aaronson moving to the left wing in Pulisic’s absence. This will be a low-volume game for the USMNT, meaning they have no choice but to make the most of every view of the goal and set pieces.
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Mexico vs USMNT Live Updates – by Nick Mendola
Mexico vs USMNT live score: Kickoff approximately 10:30 PM ET
Mexico setup
Malagon, Angulo, Vasquez, Montes, Sanchez, Alvarez, Guardado, Pineda, Huerta, Alvarado, Jimenez
USMNT lineup
Turner, A. Robinson, Ream, McKenzie, Scally, Musah, Morris, Busio, Tillman, Aaronson, Sargent
How to watch USMNT vs Panama live, stream link and start time
Kickoff time: 10:30 PM ET Tuesday (October 15)
Location: Estadio Akron in Jalisco, Guadalajara
How to watch: TNT, Max
USMNT team news, focus
The USMNT played effectively in a 3-4-3 formation against Panama, with Musah providing width on the right, Joe Scally playing a wider centre-back behind him and Antonee Robinson given even more permission to roam (if you can believe) on the left. It worked against an outsized Panama team, but would likely put more pressure on the back three of Scally, Tim Ream and Mark McKenzie than they could handle after two or three training sessions with the new boss. It will likely be a rigid 4-3-3 that gets the numbers behind the ball out of possession and looks to build up slowly in attack.
Team news from Mexico, focus
Mexico drew 2-2 against La Liga side Valencia on Saturday, with Alexis Vega and Ozziel Herrera on the scoresheet. A number of first-team players, including Edson Alvarez and Raul Jimenez, were rested for the first match of this window, meaning they are likely to be fully fit and back in the line-up on Tuesday. El Tri Jesus Gallardo and Uriel Antuna are without permanent employees this week.
Mexico vs USMNT prediction
This won’t be a pretty football game – anything but likely. The USMNT’s injury crisis is such that the uglier the game, the better their chances of a positive outcome. Shoe, meet other foot. Mexico 0-0 USA.
