USA VS MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE

It took a while for the next chapter in the storied rivalry between the USA and Mexico to heat up, but it finally found its calling.

A Mexico red card in the 67th minute was followed minutes later by Tyler Adams' first international goal, which broke a scoreless deadlock and gave the USA a 1-0 win in a friendly between a pair of young sides in Nashville Tuesday night. The red card and goal followed a moment of heightism from Matt Miazga, the 6-4 U.S. center back who taunted Mexico's 5-6 dynamo Diego Lainez after bodying him up and earning a foul to inject life into a match that was going through the paces otherwise.

The longtime Concacaf foes both featured interim coaches and rosters littered with untested talent as they turn the page after the 2018 World Cup cycle. It was clearly a more successful cycle for one than the other, with Mexico reaching the round of 16 in Russia and the USA failing to qualify for the first time since 1986. But they have both picked up the pieces and are getting started on the long road to the 2022 winter World Cup in Qatar.

Both sides had key players depart after their friendly losses on Friday, too, with the U.S. losing the services of two starters from the 2-0 defeat to Brazil, John Brooks and Paul Arriola. Mexico was even more depleted after a 4-1 loss to Uruguay, with Hirving Lozano, Raul Jimenez, Guillermo Ochoa, Orbelin Pineda and Erick Gutierrez all departing either due to injury or their clubs' request.

The U.S. had the game's first chance in the fourth minute, when Weston McKennie surged forward and received a return pass before turning and firing a looping cross into the center of the box. Gyasi Zardes was able to get a head to it, but he put his chance well high of the mark and out for a goal kick.

Mexico tested goalkeeper Zack Steffen for the first time in the 16th minute. Off a corner kick, Edson Alvarez glanced a powerful header toward the crossbar, but the Columbus Crew backstop instinctively tipped it over and away from danger.