Watch: American Defender Pulls Off Ultimate Troll of Mexican Player as US Wins

By Ross Kelly September 12, 2018 at 10:56am

The United States Men’s National Team commemorated the anniversary of 9/11 with a triumphant 1-0 victory over Mexico in a friendly match Tuesday night in Nashville, Tennessee.

Both sides used mostly inexperienced players for the contest, and despite Mexico controlling most of the action, the USMNT scored the game’s lone goal in the 71st minute.

Antonee Robinson fed Tyler Adams with a cross, and the 19-year-old placed it in the back of the net.

What a moment. 🇺🇸

ICYMI: 19-year-old Tyler Adams scored his debut goal for the USA in their 1-0 win against Mexico. pic.twitter.com/ezoeoG6k8G

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 12, 2018

It was Adams’ first international goal, and it was fitting that a player who represents a New York team in MLS scored the lone goal.

But even though that was the game’s only goal, it certainly wasn’t the game’s only highlight.

During the 65th minute, Matt Miazga of the USMNT was challenged by Mexico’s Diego Lainez. The referee rewarded the U.S. team a free kick based on Lainez’ foul, but what happened after the whistle has soccer fans talking.

Miazga 🆚 Lainez was probably the biggest highlight of #USAvMEX pic.twitter.com/mWJgJRcEPp

— Jack Grimse (@JackGrimse) September 12, 2018

Miazga and Lainez were standing chest to chest — or maybe forehead to chest, as Miazga towered over his opponent.

Was Miazga's mockery of Lainez the best part of that soccer game?

The 6-foot-4 Miazga then mocked his much, much shorter challenger by pointing out how much a difference in height there is between the two. Lainez is listed at 5 feet 5, but to be fair he still might be growing as he just turned 18 in June.

As the Nashville crowd went wild over the mockery, teammates and the referee rushed over to separate the two.

But Miazga wasn’t done making fun of Lainez as he stooped down and searched for Lainez as if he couldn’t even see him because of his stature. Mexico’s Edson Alvarez then rushed over to defend his teammate and shoved Miazga, which earned him a yellow card.

Mexican forward Angel Zaldivar ended up getting a red card just minutes later, which reduced Mexico to 10 men. That advantage was all the USMNT needed as Adams would score the game-winning goal three minutes later.

Miazga chalked up his mockery of Lainez to “mental warfare” and said the U.S. got into the heads of the Mexico players.

“It was normal. We talked a little smack. It’s part of the game,” said Miazga about his set-to with Lainez. “It’s mental warfare. We got in their heads and they got a red card right after that. You saw what happened. We took control and we won the game.”

Adams also credited Miazga’s antics for getting the team going after a dull first 64 minutes.

“Typical Miazga, I love that from him,” Adams said. “It gets the guys going. He’s not [going] to back down from someone like that. At the end of the day, your teammates see that, and you want to keep going and back your guy up. And the next tackle is going to be a tough one. That’s another one that you want to win that one and we were aggressive. … For us, we kept our composure to the best of our ability, no stupid yellows and we moved on from it.”

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