We'll start with a disclaimer: this match was one to forget. Not much can truly be learned from the U.S. men's national team's 1-1 draw with Mexico because of the circumstances. They were unusual, to say the least.
Two less-than-full strength teams in a midweek friendly sandwiched between league matches? There's only so much you can truly take away from something like that.
Wednesday's match was, by and large, a meandering, disjointed, forgettable affair between two teams that have bigger clashes on the horizon. Still, this was a night for players on the fringes to make their mark, even if few did.
There were some standouts, though, for the USMNT, as several players a bit further down the depth chart put in strong performances. Others, meanwhile, faltered, calling into question where they'll stand heading into a summer that includes both the Gold Cup and Nations League.
We'll learn more from those two tournaments than we will from this night, that's for sure. Even so, look at this draw as a little taste of what's to come for a USMNT still sorting out its player pool so early in the World Cup cycle.
