The USMNT downed Mexico 3-nil in a friendly on Sunday night in a fixture that was defined by self-inflicted wounds by El Tri, as well as the continued ascendance of a new generation of young Americans.

Mexico keeper Raul Rangel had a night to forget, making errors that led directly to two American goals, but Julian Hall and Cavan Sullivan each turned in another top-notch performance, giving a great deal of hope for the next cycle for the USMNT.

It was actually near-catastrophe for the USA inside five minutes, when Antonee Robinson’s half-clearance almost got his side into trouble. Luis Romo played the ball in for Santiago Gimenez, and while Robinson did well to get a foot in, he could only get the ball as far as Roberto  Alvarado on the edge of the penalty area. Alvarado played it back across the face of goal, and Gimenez was unable to get the ball out from under his feet from just a few yards out, and the chance went begging. 

Mexico continued to press their advantage, generating another decent look at goal in the 12th minute, with Luis Romo firing over from about 18 yards after good work from Santiago Sandoval down the right-hand side to create space. Shortly thereafter, Gimenez slipped the ball in for Orbelin Pineda, and Diego Kochen had to be quick off his line to claim the ball.

Despite Mexcio’s early pressure, it was the USA who found the breakthrough in the 28th minute, with Julian Hall striking yet again. An excellent ball from Malik Tillman put Gio Reyna into acres of space down the right-hand side. His effort was right at Raul Rangel, but the Mexico keeper could only awkwardly parry the ball directly into the path of Hall, who hammered the ball into an open net to give USA the lead.

The remainder of the first half played out in a more contained fashion, with neither side really able to manufacture another good look at goal. When the half-time whistle blew, the USA were just in front, although Mexico will have considered themselves unfortunate not to have a goal from their early chances.

When the teams returned from the break, it was the USA that came out on the front foot, with Cavan Sullivan causing havoc down the right-hand side. Mexico gradually worked their way back into things, winning a series of free-kicks that brought them dangerously close to equalizing. 

The best of these chances came from Alvarado in the 59th minute. Auston Trusty failed to fully clear a Luis Chavez corner, and Alvarado was lurking. His volley was on target, but Kochen got up well and got his fingertips to it to tip it over the bar and preserve the lead for the USA.

But despite their good work, Mexico were then undone by another catastrophic error from Rangel. This time, the keeper made the wrong decision, passing the ball almost directly to Sullivan with no Mexico player anywhere nearby. With Rangel well off his line, Sullivan unleashed a strike from 35 yards that found the back of the net to double the lead - and make him the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history.

Things quickly went from bad to worse for Mexico, as Mateo Chavez was sent off in the 67th minute. After a heavy challenge by Chavez on Yunus Musah, Seb Berhalter came over to remonstrate with the Mexican substitute. Replays appeared to show Chavez slapping Berhalter in the face, and the official did not hesitate to produce a red card, reducing El Tri to ten men.

Despite that flashpoint, the game did settle somewhat from there, with Mexico well out of it, and the USA content to probe at their opposition in search of more goals. And they did get a third goal in the 85th minute, by way of another Mexico mistake. Alvaro Fidalgo played a loose ball in the direction of Diego Campillo, but Tillman was quickest to the ball and rounded the defender before lashing the ball into the back of the net to take the score to 3-nil

There was one more late chance for the USA, with Justin Ellis firing directly at the keeper when he could have laid the ball off, but three goals was more than enough to take the result on this particular night.

Mexico may have largely been the authors of their own demise – all three USA goals came directly as a result of mistakes by Mexico – but it was another extremely positive performance from Mauricio Pochettino’s men, with his young stars once again at the forefront. The result marks three straight wins for the USMNT during this international break, with one more game remaining, against Canada on Tuesday night.