It’s official: This USMNT owns Mexico

The U.S. overwhelmed Mexico in the Nations League, stretching its unbeaten streak against its biggest rival to six

The rivalry between the U.S. men’s national team and Mexico has gone though many stages over the years, but it’s never been more lopsided in favor of the Stars and Stripes than it is at this very moment.

The USMNT overwhelmed Mexico on Thursday night in Las Vegas, defeating an awful El Tri 3-0 in a heated CONCACAF Nations League semifinal.

It was the sixth straight game without defeat for the USMNT against Mexico, equaling the longest streak in program history. Right now, it’s hard to see where Mexico’s next win against its biggest rival is going to come from.

New coach Diego Cocca has not been able to inspire his side to any kind of improvement over its listless 2022 under Tata Martino, which concluded with its first World Cup group-stage exit since 1978.

The gap in talent between the teams is massive, and even USMNT interim coach B.J. Callaghan — in his first game no less — outcoached Cocca in a humbling night for Mexico in front of a crowd full of its own fans.

Christian Pulisic was the star for the USMNT, scoring a pair of goals, but up and down the field the Americans won individual and team battles against their biggest rival.

The (for now) Chelsea winger should have opened the scoring on 23 minutes, but blazed an easy chance well over after doing brilliantly to beat Mexico’s defense and dribble around Guillermo Ochoa.

No matter. He would find the opener 15 minutes later off a broken play in the box. It was no less than the USMNT deserved.

It would get worse for Mexico — much worse.

Pulisic grabbed his brace just after the second half started, as the USMNT shredded an inadequate Mexico press with ease before Tim Weah found his streaking teammate for a tap-in on the doorstep.

The U.S. confidence was in full flow, from a cheeky but unnecessary flicked pass from Pulisic after his second goal, to Gio Reyna pumping up the crowd WWE-style after drawing a foul on 60 minutes.

Then there was the indelible moment Weston McKennie produced after a brawl that was kicked off by Cesar Montes getting a straight red card for kicking Folarin Balogun in frustration.

Ricardo Pepi would come off the bench to add a third, making the 3-0 win the largest margin of victory the USMNT has ever had in a competitive game against Mexico.

For the USMNT, the only blight on the evening was red cards to McKennie and Sergiño Dest, who both got caught up in the general CONCACAFery that was on display in a match that ended with nine players per side.

For Mexico, the entire game was a blight on the program: from the performance, to the red cards, to the countless times its fans engaged in “the chant,” which eventually saw referee Iván Barton end the game early.

The USMNT will move on to face Canada in Sunday’s final. For Mexico, the recriminations will continue. It’s hard to see how Cocca can last much longer after this, but Thursday’s game made it painfully clear: the USMNT is just much better than Mexico in every aspect right now.

[lawrence-related id=21571,21468,21686]