MIAMI, Florida – For the third time in 2021, Mexico and the United States will square off in an official match, but this time in a Concacaf World Cup qualifier on Friday night in Cincinnati, Ohio.
In their first two meetings, coming in the Finals of the 2020 Concacaf Nations League and 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, the U.S. emerged with extra time victories. However, veteran Mexico DF Hector Moreno feels like his side is well-positioned is earn a big result in a hostile environment on Friday against the U.S. before wrapping up the November window with a visit to Canada.
“We are doing well, we feel good about the two very important games that we have against our two closest rivals in Concacaf qualifying right now, so we want to play two very good games and get closer to qualifying for the World Cup,” said Moreno in an exclusive interview with Concacaf.com.
“I think the team is in a good position. It’s solid, it is leading the table. There are always things to improve or to work on. We have a lot of different players who bring different things to help the team, so we just have to take advantage of that in the best way,” added Moreno.
Whether it’s a National League clash, Gold Cup Final, World Cup qualifier or even a friendly, Moreno says that there is always an edge to a Mexico-U.S. game.
“I think that the feeling is always the same when it comes to a Mexico-U.S. It is a very important game; it is a game that generates a lot of expectations in both Mexico and the U.S. It’s true that it’s just three points in a qualifier, but for what it is, what it produces, what is felt, it doesn’t matter if it’s a qualifier, or a final, it’s always a tough game. For me, it’s the Clasico of Concacaf, so it is played in that matter, with intensity, with passion,” said Moreno.
The 33-year-old, who has had his fair share of matches against Mexico’s northern rivals, says that the current U.S. team under Gregg Berhalter plays a style that produces a more entertaining 90 minutes of football.
“The U.S. is a team that now tries to play and that has made the matches much better to watch. They are more open. You see both teams looking to possess the ball, attack and score goals. Perhaps before the U.S. was a team that sat back more, looking to counter, but not now. It is a team that looks to take the initiative from playing out of the back and they have good players to do it,” said Moreno.
Moreno was involved in one of the most memorable World Cup qualifiers between Mexico and the U.S. in November of 2016, when El Tricolor snapped a four-match WCQ losing streak on U.S. soil to the U.S. in Columbus, Ohio with a 2-1 win thanks to a late goal from DF Rafael Marquez.
“What I remember most from that game is Rafa’s goal in the 89th minute. It was an explosion of adrenalin and happiness. We knew that we were close to being able to take away the three points. We had such a long history of defeats there in Columbus, and it was thought that it was impossible to win there. We were able to do it and it gave us a lot of confidence to then qualify,” said Moreno.
Marquez’s memorable winner came via a corner kick, which continued a trend of set piece opportunities often deciding big matches between Mexico and the U.S. Look no further than the three goals for the U.S. in their 3-2 Nations League Final win over Mexico, which came on dead ball situations, as did the winning score in the 2021 Gold Cup Final, a 1-0 U.S. win.
L-R) Said Martinez (HON) Referee, Hector Moreno of Mexico and Kellyn Acosta of USA during the game United States vs Mexico in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Final, at Allegiant Stadium, on August 1, 2021.
Moreno believes that keeping the U.S. from having those chances will be paramount to a Mexico victory.
“We will have to be very alert and focused on those types of plays. Since those two games the team has been very good on set pieces. It’s tough to accept that those two finals were lost on those types of plays, knowing full well that it is one of the strengths of the U.S. What we have to do is first try to avoid giving up those chances, keep them from having that option, and if it does happen, look for the best way to counter it, because the U.S. are strong when it comes to crosses and playing in the air,” said Moreno.
On the club front, Moreno has enjoyed a memorable 2021. Since joining Liga MX side Monterrey during the summer, Moreno helped the team reach the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final and led Rayados to a dramatic 1-0 win over Club America in front of a boisterous crowd in Monterrey.
“The Champions League Final was wonderful. It was the kind of thing I envisioned when I signed with Rayados. They were close to being in the final when I signed with them and I got to enjoy the best part, playing a semifinal against Cruz Azul and then a Final against Club America. The atmosphere in the stadium was incredible and to play a final against America and win it in front of our fans meant so much more. I felt immense joy and satisfaction and I only hope to be able to have more nights like that with Rayados,” said Moreno.
Thanks to that win over Club America in the SCCL Final, Moreno and Monterrey will now travel to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament that Moreno has had on his professional bucket list.
“It is going to be spectacular. I think it is the only competition that I have yet to play, so I’m very excited to be able to play in it. Since it is being played in Abu Dhabi, I’m sure the planning and organization is going to be perfect, so I’m excited to be in a tournament with the champions of all the other Confederations and hopefully we can go far in the tournament,” concluded Moreno.
