For this match to not go the USA's way, it has to really not go the USA's way. Ideally, the Americans want to win or tie the game and advance to the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship final for a shot at their first-ever regional title at this level. (For real: the USA has never won the regional Men's U-20 title.) But first and foremost, the US U-20s want to qualify for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
After Mexico thrashed El Salvador in the preceding game of this Classification Stage group, the USA's qualification for the U-20 World Cup is essentially a formality.