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Rimando, Klinsmann did not speak about Mexico PK plan prior to game
SANDY, Utah—Jurgen Klinsmann made headlines when he publicly reprimanded Fabian Johnson for asking to be taken out of the United States’ 3-2 loss to Mexico on Saturday, but another part of the equation has been largely ignored. If the U.S. coach had been able to carry out his plan, goalkeeper Nick Rimando might have come in specifically for the penalty shootout in one of soccer’s unique situations.
“The plan was to maybe to have Nick Rimando ready for the penalty shootout, because obviously he’s the best penalty blocker that you can have in this whole region. That thought kind of went down the drain when Fabian Johnson said he can’t go anymore,” Klinsmann said post-game on Saturday. “If it went 2-2, going into the penalty shootout with Nick Rimando would have been a good consolation, but it didn’t work that way.”
On Tuesday after training with Real Salt Lake, Rimando told SI.com that he never spoke with Klinsmann about that possibility before the game. Rimando found out when Klinsmann pulled Chris Wondolowski back at the last moment after preparing to bring him on when the U.S. still needed a goal in extra time. The U.S. used its last sub on Brad Evans when Johnson came out, three minutes after Bobby Wood's equalizer. Mexico scored the go-ahead goal seven minutes later.
Klinsmann throws Johnson under bus ahead of friendly against Costa Rica
“We just trained during the week [on] penalty kicks because it could’ve went down to that,” Rimando said. “I did pretty good during the week, so I guess it was in his plan if it came down to it. … It’s kind of a sticky situation when you’re going against your own teammates [in training] and trying to give them confidence going into games, but then you also want to stop them. I want to block them too, you know, and have confidence when called upon.”
It’s a move rarely seen, in no small part because only a few matches can end in extra time or a shootout. When those opportunities arise, coaches often use all three substitutions on the field players who have covered immense ground across 120 minutes and rarely have one left over at the very end.
Current Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal exercised that option when the Netherlands team he coached at the 2014 World Cup defeated Costa Rica in a quarterfinal shootout. Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul came on for Jasper Cillessen in stoppage time and saved two of the five shots he faced to win the game.
U.S. failed to assert itself against more proactive, opportunistic Mexico
“That is not normal,” Krul, whose reputation as a penalty specialist is not unlike Rimando’s in MLS, said after that game. “You sit the whole match on the bench and then you have to go in and save the penalties. I don’t know what I can say.”
All Rimando could say, with no lack of confidence in his voice, was that he was prepared to face El Tri’s shooters in much the same fashion.
“I bring that to the team, and if called upon, I was going to be ready,” Rimando said. “I knew it was an option, and I think anytime a penalty-kick shootout comes to mind if I’m on the team, I’m going to be ready for it.”
GALLERY: USA vs. Mexico through the years
USA vs. Mexico Soccer
November 11, 2016 – Mexico 2, USA 1
USA and Mexico players watch Rafa Marquez's 89th-minute header find the net in a famous World Cup qualifying win in Columbus for El Tri.
October 10, 2015 – Mexico 3, USA 2 (AET)
Jermaine Jones falls to his knees in disappointment as Mexico celebrates after Paul Aguilar's sensational volley in extra time captured the CONCACAF Cup for El Tri and sends the U.S. rival to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
April 15, 2015 — USA 2, Mexico 0
Stanford University's Jordan Morris marked his first senior national team start with his first international goal, sparking the USA in another 2-0 triumph over Mexico, this one at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
September 10, 2013 — USA 2, Mexico 0
Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan scored second-half goals to beat El Tri by the same score for the fourth consecutive qualifier in Columbus, Ohio.
March 26, 2013 — USA 0, Mexico 0
Clint Dempsey captained the U.S. to a 0-0 draw at Estadio Azteca, the second time ever the Americans registered a point in World Cup qualifying in Mexico (the other a 1997 tie). Defenders Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler were the stars as Mexico couldn't cash in on several opportunities. The U.S. escaped to remain in second place in CONCACAF qualifying.
August 15, 2012 — USA 1, Mexico 0
It took 25 attempts, but after this friendly, the United States could finally say that it had won at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium. Despite being outplayed for most of the match, the U.S. won thanks to an 80th-minute goal from Michael Orozco Fiscal — the first international goal of his career.
August 10, 2011 — USA 1, Mexico 1
Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's U.S. debut got off to a rough start, as the Americans trailed Mexico, 1-0 after an uninspired first half in Philadelphia. The U.S. showed more verve after halftime, though, and an impressive display from Brek Shea and a 73rd-minute goal from Robbie Rogers led to a 1-1 draw.
June 25, 2011 — Mexico 4, USA 2
In the Gold Cup final, Mexico captured its second straight title in the battle for CONCACAF bragging rights and secured a berth in the 2013 Confederations Cup. Pablo Barrera scored twice; Giovani Dos Santos and Andres Guardado also had goals. The U.S. was up 2-0 early on Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan goals, but poor defending (partially due to the loss of Steve Cherundolo by injury) doomed the Americans.
August 12, 2009 — Mexico 2, USA 1
The U.S. took its first-ever lead at Azteca Stadium, but went on to lose 2-1 in what was a critical World Cup qualifier for Mexico. The win changed the tide for the then-struggling Mexican squad, as it went on to go 3-0-1 in its next four matches to earn a trip to South Africa. The U.S. still went on to finish first in CONCACAF qualification.
July 26, 2009 — Mexico 5, USA 0
Mexico put an emphatic end to the Americans' 9-0-2 home streak against "El Tri." The Mexicans took the Gold Cup from the two-time defending champion, with five different players scoring goals in the second half at Giants Stadium.
February 11, 2009 — USA 2, Mexico 0
Two goals from Michael Bradley gave the U.S. another home victory over Mexico. It marked the eleventh consecutive time that the Americans had gone unbeaten against Mexico when playing on U.S. soil.
June 24, 2007 — USA 2, Mexico 1
Down 1-0, second-half goals from Landon Donovan and Benny Feilhaber gave the U.S. the victory in the 2007 Gold Cup finals. The win earned the Americans a spot in the 2009 Confederations Cup, where they achieved their famous upset over Spain.
September 3, 2005 — USA 2, Mexico 0
A 2-0 victory over "El Tri" clinched a spot in the 2006 World Cup, with goals coming from Steve Ralston and DaMarcus Beasley.
May 8, 2003 — USA 0, Mexico 0
In their first meeting since the 2002 World Cup, an all-MLS squad of Americans played Mexico to a 0-0 draw in front of more than 69,000 people in Houston.
June 17, 2002 — USA 2, Mexico 0
Arguably the biggest win in U.S. soccer team history came against its archrivals at the 2002 World Cup. Brian McBride and Landon Donovan gave the Americans a 2-0 victory in South Korea to send their team to the quarterfinals. It is the furthest stage the team has reached in the World Cup since 1930.
July 1, 2001 — Mexico 1, USA 0
Needing a win to stay in contention for the 2002 World Cup, the Mexicans won 1-0 at Azteca Stadium, making their record 21-0-1 when hosting the Americans.
February 28, 2001 — USA 2, Mexico 0
For the first time ever, the Americans won their third consecutive game against Mexico. The victory came in the World Cup qualifying finals and was held in Columbus, Ohio.
August 1, 1999 — Mexico 1, USA 0
Cuauhtemoc Blanco's goal in extra time eliminated the U.S. in the semifinals of the 1999 Mexico City Confederations Cup. The win capped off a long tradition of Mexican dominance over the American side, a streak that shortly thereafter ended, as the Americans won the next three matches against their rivals.
July 17, 1995 — USA 0, Mexico 0
The USA outlasted Mexico in a penalty shootout to reach the semifinals of the 1995 Copa America. After a 0-0 draw, goalkeeper Brad Friedel was the hero in PKs, making two saves. The U.S. made all four of its attempts and advanced.
Liviu Bird is a soccer analyst with more than 20 years of experience in the game. He learned how to play in the streets of Romania before moving to the soccer wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska, escaping to play collegiately as a goalkeeper at Highline Community College and Seattle Pacific University, where he also earned his B.A. in journalism. Bird played semiprofessionally and had tryouts at professional clubs but hung up his gloves in 2012 to focus on writing and coaching at the youth and collegiate levels. He joined Sports Illustrated in March 2013 as a freelance contributor and has also written for NBC Sports, Soccer Wire, The New York Times, American Soccer Now and the Telegraph (UK).