USA v Mexico review: Cavan Sullivan makes history, and the kids are alright

The podcast provides an in-depth breakdown of the USA vs Mexico friendly match played at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix. The hosts—Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruffin, and Joe Lowry (attending in person)—discuss how the U.S. won 3-0 in an environment that was approximately 90% Mexico supporters, creating a hostile atmosphere.

Key tactical observations include that Mexico dominated possession early, particularly in the first 20 minutes, applying man-to-man pressure that forced the U.S. into long, direct passes. Around the 20-minute mark, the U.S. made subtle adjustments, with Kevin Sullivan beginning to press center backs more aggressively, which forced Mexico into longer passes and gave the U.S. more possession. The hosts note that the scoreline flattered the U.S., as two of the three goals came from Mexican goalkeeper errors rather than dominant American play.

The standout performer was 17-year-old Kevin Sullivan, who became the youngest USMNT goal scorer in history. The hosts describe him as "electric" in the second half, beating defenders consistently on the right wing, showing fearlessness, and demonstrating both defensive intensity and attacking prowess. Sullivan's performance was so impressive that the analysts argue he should be the starting right winger when the full U.S. squad returns, potentially ahead of Sergiño Dest.

Other positive performances discussed include Julian Hall, who despite early tactical challenges, showed good hold-up play and on-ball skills—aspects of his game that have been underappreciated. Gio Reyna impressed with his mobility and fitness level after his move to Strasbourg, marking a significant improvement from previous cycles. Diego Koken, the 20-year-old goalkeeper, played the full 90 minutes and demonstrated solid distribution and shot-stopping, suggesting Pochettino sees him as a viable future option.

Alex Freeman showed improved attacking intent from the left back position, benefiting from a more defensive-minded midfield pairing (Berhalter and Adams) compared to the World Cup setup. Chris Richards and Austin Trustee formed a solid center-back partnership, with Trustee winning all eight of his duels. Malik Tillman was sloppy but involved in the U.S.'s best attacking moments, and Justin Ellis came off the bench to impress with his technical ability, though he remains limited as a goal scorer.

The hosts also discuss the infamous red card incident where Mexican player Sebastián Berhalter was slapped twice, then fell to the ground—an example of Mexico losing composure. The U.S. responded with emotional intelligence, standing up for teammates but avoiding getting sent off themselves, which Pochettino valued in the post-match press conference.

Regarding midfield tactics, Joe Lowry notes that Pochettino has moved away from the Tyler Adams-Malik Tillman double pivot that worked at the World Cup, instead pairing Adams with more defensive-minded partners like Berhalter, Moussa, or Mehmeti. The hosts speculate this may enable Freeman to push forward more without defensive coverage concerns.

The analysts conclude that while this was not a dominant performance by the U.S., it was a job well done given the circumstances—a young squad, a hostile environment, and Mexico's increased physicality. The team demonstrated the ability to adjust tactically, maintain discipline, and capitalize on errors, which are signs of a maturing squad.