HOUSTON — The U.S. men’s national soccer team’s path to the Concacaf Gold Cup final Sunday night was paved with mostly minor obstacles that — given the roster’s innocence and Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s cultivations — fit its needs.
But on the last day of the last tournament before next year’s World Cup, the Americans confronted an opponent and an atmosphere unlike anything else during this three-week regional bash.
In the bedlam of sold-out NRG Stadium, the U.S. team met the escalated challenge until a 77th-minute goal by Mexico captain Edson Álvarez — initially ruled offside, then confirmed as good on video replay — propelled the defending champions to a 2-1 victory.