US Soccer Ties Mexico In Jurgen Klinsmann’s Coaching Debut

The Jurgen Klinsmann era has begun for US Soccer.

Klinsmann's first game as coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team ended in a 1-1 draw with Mexico in an international friendly at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Wednesday night.

Mexico's Oribe Peralta opened the scoring in the 17th minute and Robbie Rogers got the first goal of the Klinsmann era in the 73rd minute.  The USA ended a 3-match losing streak against Mexico.

“I really had a lot of fun with the coaching staff and the players,” Klinsmann, a former World Cup winner as a player with Germany, said in a televised interview with ESPN. “It’s a really nice feeling.”

Klinsmann made six changes to the American's starting lineup that took the field in a 4-2 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final on June 26th.  This was the 12th draw between the teams.  USA trails the overall series, 32-15.

Mexico got the scoring started when Andres Guardado sent a cross in front that Peralta volleyed past U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard for an early 1-0 lead.

The Americans tied it in the 2nd half as Brek Shea centered a pass in front and Rogers tapped it home for his second international goal.

Klinsmann, one of the greatest goal scorers in Germany history, was hired to put the US National Team back on the map.  The Americans got to the round of 16 at last year’s World Cup, but have gone in the opposite direction in 2011.  They got throttled by by Spain earlier this summer, were upset by Panama in Gold Cup group play and then blew a two-goal lead against Mexico in the Gold Cup final - a loss that cost former head coach Bob Bradley his job.