After two disappointing performances in elimination games, the USA Men's National Team brought its "A" game on Sunday in coming from behind to defeat Mexico 2-1.  The officiating was not perfect, but the official seemed to make and miss calls for both sides (to me, that's fair.)  Mexico does not really have the officials to blame for this loss.

My ten thoughts:

1.  Despite Guardado's goal and Sanchez's fantastic saves, Nery Castillo was Mexico's best player.  His speed and playmaking ability set up the goal and had the USA defenders turning in every direction but his.  Unlike the previous two games, the USA's best player was Tim Howard.  He made a couple of beautiful saves and never seemed to lose his cool.

2.  Bradley's substitutions were perfectly timed and impacted the gave positively for the US.  He's no Iain Hume, but Ricardo Clark was a great move, and his energy enthused the US team.  His 59th-minute deflection of a Mexican shot was also significant.  I thought after Dempsey's weak shot that Bradley would remove him.  Max Bretos thought for sure it would be Ching coming out.

3.  I don't see how Mexican fans can think the team was robbed on this day.  With the USA hitting the crossbar (Beasley) and the goalpost (Ching) as well as several outstanding shots by the US (and saves by Sanchez), the game could very well have ended up 4-2.  The first 10 minutes after half-time was the best the USA has played in a long time.

4.  I was not surprised to see Mexican players diving in the box after Megallon's penalty. 

5.  The hush of the crowd after the USA's goal and toward the end of the match told me the Mexican fans wanted this game badly.  From the way they began and played throughout the match, it was clear the Mexican team and Hugo Sanchez wanted this game.  When the USA beats a soccer-loving country in a game they desperately want to win, then the US team has accomplished something.

6.  Bocanegra's retaliation after the no-call on Beasley was deserving of a yellow because the official was able to stay in control and not let the fouls get out of hand.  Again, the official seemed to have a good feel for the flow of the game.

7.  DaMarcus Beasley's free kicks have been outstanding--not too high, not too low.  Why does Donovan take the corners?

8.  After falling behind 1-0, many US teams would have folded.  Particularly since the US had been tearing up the turf on the Mexican end prior to that goal.  I have seen US teams in the past fold after that kind of momentum-change.

9.  Jonathan Spector's play was a surprise, and makes me wonder why Hejduk was in there so long in the first place.  I suspect, though, that he should have been on Guardado when he scored.

10.  I think Feilhaber's goal was more luck than skill.  So many times in that position, the ball sails into the cheap seats.  Still, you gotta shoot them before they go in.  Bravo, Benny.