USMNT player ratings: How did the Americans do in their loss to Mexico?

Jurgen Klinsmann didn't make things too easy on his men. He trotted them out in what looked like a 3-5-2, but he called a 3-4-3. Whatever it was, the players didn't look comfortable playing it and, after going down a goal, he switched them to a traditional 4-4-2 around the half-hour mark, which worked better.

Klinsmann gets credit for adjusting sooner rather than later, but the lessons were too little, too late, despite a talented enough roster to take on Mexico. The Americans probably could've ended with a better result had they approached the match differently, but the result was a 1-2 loss to open up the Hex round of qualifying vs. Mexico.

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Assisted on the Bobby Wood goal with nice hold-up play and good final pass. When he got the ball, he was threatening throughout the night.

He has to be docked some credit though for his role in Mexico's second goal. Klinsmann told reporters John Brooks missed his mark, but Altidore was the closest player to Rafael Marquez and he wasn't actually marking anyone. He was just kind of hanging out in front of the goal.

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Like pretty much everyone, his second half was better than his first, but his 49th minute goal was a key difference-making moment. He was dangerous whenever the Americans pushed forward in possession, and he created a nice shot on goal in the 74th minute by trapping, turning and firing, but his shot went straight to Alfredo Talavera.

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He was asked to lead the central midfield in a 3-5-2-looking formation before the Americans switched to a 4-4-2 with a more comfortable winger role for Pulisic. He looked threatening when he pushed ahead, but his first touch let him down more than once, most notably in the 33rd minute, when a loose ball was gifted to his feet in open space and a heavy touch gave the ball back.

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His defensive work was mostly solid but it was a challenge that he handled poorly that led to Mexico's opening goal. He didn't generate much in terms of the attack and his final balls and set pieces were often lacking.

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Often the physically aggressive player who brings a sort of “X factor” for the Americans, Jones looked out of sorts and often ineffective. He had only made his first start since July last week and he may still be working his way back to 100 percent, but it showed. He improved in the second half and helped win back the ball a number of times.

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It was a bit of a mixed bag from Johnson. Though he did some good work along the flank and had a couple good crosses, he also had some shots and attempted crosses go wildly off target. He was stripped of the ball a bit too easily at times, and we've just come to expect more from Johnson.

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He started out as a wingback and then switched to a fullback when the formation shifted. Once he got settled into the match, he started to play better than he often does for the USMNT. He had a couple sloppy challenges, but also had some good moments pushing forward.

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Per usual, Brooks was one of the best Americans on the field, even when being asked to hold down the USA's end in a three-back in the first half hour. He did well to cut out Mexico's chances, and his positioning was smart and disciplined.

The problem is, on Rafael Marquez's late 89th minute goal, no one was even near the Mexican player and he had a wide open header. Though Jozy Altidore was close to Marquez, Klinsmann told reporters in the post-game press conferene that Brooks was the one who lost his mark. That's pretty unforgivable.

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He had trouble keeping up Jesus “Tecatito” Corona and left some gaps along the back line. He managed to miss an open near-post header in the 58th minute, and he was fortunate not to concede a penalty kick on a play where Hector Herrera took a dive, despite Gonzalez's foul committed.

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He was asked to play left back for most of the match, which is not the centerback's usual spot. He had some trouble keeping up with Hirving Lozano, but he showed enough that if he could grow into the left back role a bit more, Klinsmann may do it to help move Johnson higher up the pitch.

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We'll give incomplete grades the players who did not play significant enough minutes, and that includes Tim Howard and Brad Guzan, who had to split their time in goal.

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