I still don't hate Mexico...

...but I hate losing to them.

The U.S. played the best 10 minutes of soccer I've ever seen them play in Azteca. Then they scored, and something switched off. I kept watching the midfield back off time and time again, and conceding the ball to Mexico. That can work when you're a fast passing counterattacking team, but for that game they weren't. Mexico made them pay for it.

For the love of God, step up and challenge players on the ball, especially when teams are attacking up the middle. Crosses for the wings tend to be Gooch's bread and butter to break up, but I've seen Rossi and now Castro nail blasts from right outside the penalty area because no one steps up to them quickly.

Charlie Davies looks poised to be our latest great forward. I hope he can sustain his form. His goal was positively cool, calm, and clinical.

It was probably the altitude, but some of their decisions were atrocious. There'd be open folks, but the back line wouldn't see them, and started hoofing the ball upfield. Or Landon would try to use his speed to run by players, only to get caught when he didn't have anyone to pass to. In a place like this, you've got to let the ball do the work, because running around will leave you gassed. I've never seen Donovan get passed like he did during the lead up to Mexico's second goal. This team seemed to run out of fuel pretty quickly.

Oh well, this game wasn't a must win, but the next one is. This home game against El Salvador is huge now that the hex has become a log jam. In fact, they'd better win these next two. T & T away might not be the cakewalk people keep assuming it will be.

On the flip side, Mexico/Costa Rica in Costa Rica is gonna be a fun game to watch.