From Huffington Post Sports:
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The United States has qualified for the World Cup while Mexico has taken
another step backward after the Americans held on for a 2-0 victory over their
CONCACAF rivals in a crucial CONCACAF qualifying match at Columbus Crew Stadium
on Tuesday.
Coming off a devastating loss at Costa Rica four days earlier, Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan scored in the second half to put the Stars and Stripes in position to finish in the top three of
the Hexagonal to book a place in Brazil next summer.
The USA, which moved back into first place ahead of Costa Rica, officially
qualified for the World Cup after Panama lost to Honduras an hour after the
final whistle of its win.
Fighting for position, the U.S. was without arguably the region's top player,
Michael Bradley, who sat out for the second straight game with an ankle injury.
Three additional Americans also missed the match because of yellow card
accumulation: forward Jozy Altidore, midfielder Geoff Cameron and defender Matt
Besler.
Ahead of the game, Klinsmann called in four additional players, including
Clarence Goodson, who started in place of Besler in central defense along with
Omar Gonzalez. Fabian Johnson shifted from midfield to the back line opposite of
left back DaMarcus Beasley. Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey, Donovan, Alejandro
Bedoya and lone striker Johnson filled out the 4-2-3-1 formation.
Mexico opened the match with a different feel from Friday, when the team had
a late second-half collapse at home against Honduras for its second loss in the
Hexagonal that ultimately led to the firing of coach Jose Manuel de la Torre. He
was replaced by Luis Fernando Tena, who put star striker Javier 'Chicharito'
Hernandez back in the starting XI despite the striker coming off a hamstring
injury.
After shifting much of their lineup from the Costa Rica loss, the Americans
looked a bit unsettled after kickoff. Mexico was on the attack early, forcing
goalkeeper Tim Howard to make a diving save on an attempt from Christian Giménez
in the 18th minute for the first scoring opportunity from either side in the
first half.
But after the nervy moment, Jurgen Klinsmann's men calmed down and had some
chances of their own, with both Dempsey and Donovan getting into the box for
shots that were blocked by Mexican defenders. Johnson nearly had the opener off
a corner kick in the 32nd minute, but Mexico keeper Jesus Corona saved the
attempt on the goal line.
The teams entered the half scoreless. But that wouldn't last long.
Playing with a sense of urgency in front of a raucous crowd, the U.S. came
out of the locker room much like Mexico did to open the game. However, the Stars
and Stripes were able to capitalize off of their surge when Johnson used his
head to slip one into El Tri's goal.