MEXICO CITY -- When the final whistle blew, bodies started dropping. The Estadio Azteca was every bit the energy sucking force the young United States men's national team had been warned of and after 90-plus minutes, there was nothing left in the tank. Even striker Jordan Pefok, a 60th-minute substitute, immediately dropped to the prone position, exhausted, after the U.S. secured a massive point in a 0-0 draw with Mexico. No one was spared.
Therein lied the dilemma, something U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter acknowledged. By playing what amounted to a first-choice starting XI, he risked wearing out those players -- with just two days of recovery before a more pivotal game against Panama on Sunday -- and getting nothing to show for it.