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Pasadena, Calif. • Paul Aguilar scored Mexico's second goal of extra time on a stunning volley in the 118th minute, and Mexico earned a berth in the 2017 Confederations Cup with a 3-2 victory over the United States on Saturday night
Aguilar rocketed his shot past Brad Guzan after Raul Jimenez passed the ball over his head and into the penalty area, putting a thrilling finish on the latest chapter of this rivalry at the sold-out Rose Bowl.
Oribe Peralta scored a tiebreaking goal in the sixth minute of extra time for Mexico. Bobby Wood evened it in the 18th minute of extra time for the Americans, who lost to Mexico for the first time in seven games under coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
Javier Hernandez scored an early goal as Mexico beat the U.S. for the first time since the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup final.
Cheered by a huge crowd of supporters, El Tri won the one-game playoff between the last two Gold Cup winners to earn CONCACAF's berth in the eight-team Confederations Cup tournament in Russia, a prelude to the 2018 World Cup.
Geoff Cameron scored in the 15th minute for the U.S.
A crowd of 93,723 created a crackling atmosphere under the lights at the 93-year-old stadium. It was the second-largest attendance to watch the U.S. team at home, barely surpassed by the 1994 Rose Bowl turnout for a World Cup game against Romania.
Both teams appeared to be exhausted heading into extra time on a hot night in Southern California, but they were just getting started.
Peralta slipped into the middle and banged a loose ball between Cameron's legs early in extra time, but the U.S., backed up by Mexico for much of the night, struck back with surprising precision. Substitute DeAndre Yedlin dribbled easily to the top of the penalty area and slid a pass to a crossing Wood, who buried an 8-yard shot with his right foot.
Wood is building a remarkable history of dramatic late goals after winning friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands in June.
But after Jimenez chipped the ball back against the run of play, Aguilar put a vicious volley past Brad Guzan and then celebrated by throwing himself into the signage boards lining the field. —
Mexico 3, United States 2
Mexico 1 0 1 1 — 3
United States 1 0 0 1 — 2
First half—1, Mexico, Hernandez (Peralta), 10th minute. 2, United States, Cameron (Bradley), 15th minute.
Second half—None.
First overtime—3, Mexico, Peralta (Aguilar), 97th minute.
Second overtime—4, United States, Wood (Yedlin), 108th minute. 5, Mexico, Aguilar (Jimenez), 118th minute.
Yellow cards—Aguilar, Mex, 21st; Peralta, Mex, 34th; Moreno, Mex, 43rd; Beckerman, US, 52nd; Bradley, US, 87th; Guemez, Mex, 95th. Red cards—None.
Referee—Joel Aguilar, El Salvador. Linesmen—Juan Zumba, El Salvador; Leonel Leal, Costa Rica.
A—93,723.
Lineups
Mexico—Moises Munoz; Paul Aguilar, Diego Reyes, Hector Moreno, Miguel Layun; Rafael Marquez (Arturo Rivas, 76th), Hector Herrera, Andres Guardado; (Javier Guemez, 80th) Raul Jimenez, Javier Hernandez (Jesus Corona, 98th), Oribe Peralta
United States—Brad Guzan; Fabian Johnson (Brad Evans, 110th), Geoff Cameron, Matt Besler, DeMarcus Beasley; Kyle Beckerman, Gyasi Zardes (DeAndrew Yedlin, 78th), Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley; Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore (Bobby Wood, 98th).