Bradley stunner helps US earn crucial point
mexico city — Michael Bradley watched Hector Moreno’s pass to Javier Hernandez in the centre circle and thought back to the videos he had seen of the star pushing the ball back. So even before Chicharito tapped the ball toward Hector Herrera, Bradley stepped up.
The US captain knocked the ball toward Mexico’s goal, sprinted to catch up and lofted a right-footed chip from about 40 yards over goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa’s outstretched arm and under the crossbar. The crowd of 81,000 at Estadio Azteca was stunned. The United States had taken the lead six minutes into Sunday night’s World Cup qualifier.
“Here you know that if you catch a ball right, that with the thin air the ball’s going to really fly,” Bradley said. US coach Bruce Arena changed seven of 11 starters and employed a five-man defence to overcome the 7,820foot altitude and short recovery time. His team US did not quite soar all night, but Bradley’s goal set the tone. Carlos Vela tied it in the 23rd minute on a counterattack with a 23-yard shot that beat goalkeeper Brad Guzan to the near post, but the Americans hung on for a 1-1 tie to gain only their third point at Azteca.
“The bad start in the hex meant that every point now is worth its weight in gold,” Bradley said.
Mexico lead the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region with 14 points, followed by Costa Rica and the US (eight each), Panama (six), Honduras (four) and Trinidad and Tobago (three). — AP