A pair of Philadelphia Union alumni added yet another piece of hardware to their collections as the United States Men's National Team won a thriller over Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League Final.
The win marked the first international silverware for former Union homegrowns Mark McKenzie and Brenden Aaronson courtesy of the 3-2 win over their rivals. Pennsylvania native Christian Pulisic delivered the winning strike from the penalty spot after video review awarded the Stars and Stripes the opportunity in extra time. Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath provided some heroics of his own in extra time after coming in as second-half substitute for Zach Steffen. After VAR awarded El Tri a PK for a McKenzie handball, the keeper guessed correctly to make the crucial save.
Mexico got off to a flying start with a second-minute goal from Jesús Manuel Corona after a U.S. giveaway. El Tri then notched a 2-0 lead off a set piece in the 24th minute that was headed home from point-blank range by Hector Moreno but the goal was waved off on Video Review, as Moreno was deemed offside. Moments later the US answered with an equalizer from Gio Reyna's in the 27th minute that saw the 18-year-old head home a fortunate crash off the post.
After back and forth chances from both sides, it was Mexico that would find the go-ahead goal with Diego Lainez netting a 2-1 lead in the 79th minute. The US struck back again, though, as McKennie got another huge leveler, finally getting the better of Ochoa with yet another header off a corner kick that just squeaked into the goal.
