(Getty)
Christian Pulisic has guaranteed victory for USA Sunday night when they make the trip to Estadio Azteca for a World Cup qualifier. It’s a venue where they have never won a competitive match, and El Tri will virtually clinch a World Cup berth with three points.
Pulisic had strong words after Thursday’s win over Trinidad and Tobago, a match in which the teenager scored the only goals. He now has three goals in his last four matches with USMNT, and has invigorated a squad that was stagnating before a 6-0 win over Honduras in March. USA are now unbeaten in three straight, and have climbed out of the basement in the CONCACAF standings.
Then there’s Mexico. El Tri have been rolling through The Hex, winning four of five and only conceding one goal. They are an offensive juggernaut in the region, and dominated Honduras at Azteca earlier in the week.
The venue is essential for this rivalry, which is typically one-sided but has featured American surprises in the past. USA have beaten Mexico in WCQ before, but that was in the friendly confines of Columbus, where Mexico was victorious in November. It’ll likely be the last trip to Estadio Azteca for Tim Howard, who at 38 years old is hoping for one last shock performance from the Americans.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern, and lineups will be posted one hour before kickoff.
Here are the basics:
DATE: Sunday, June 11, 2017
CHANNEL: Fox Sports 1
KICKOFF TIME: 8:30 p.m. Eastern
LOCATION: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
LIVE STREAM: Click here for all live streaming information
LINEUP
Mexico: Ochoa, Salcedo, reyes, Moreno, Alanis, Herrera, Jonathan, Fabian, Vela, Hernandez, Lozano
USMNT: Guzan, Yedlin, Gonzalez, Beasley, Ream, Acosta, Cameron, Bradley, Arriola, Pulisic, Wood