Player Ratings: USA 1 Mexico 2

Tim Howard: 8… Another solid performance in goal for Howard.  Unfortunately could not get a hand on Mexico’s winner in the 82^nd minute.

Oguchi Onyewu: 7… Easily the best of the back four Wednesday afternoon, Onyewu would not be beat in the air and came out with the ball in almost all his 50-50 situations.

Jay Demerit: 4… Demerit was far less spectacular than his partner in the back.  The FA walk-on found himself consistently behind the play, making too many late, rash challenges on the ball.

Steve Cherundolo: 6.5… Cherundolo’s defensive job wasn’t great, but he provided an offensive spark coming out of the back.

Carlos Bocanegra: 5… Quite the opposite of his compatriot on the right, Bocanegra was slow and provided nothing coming out of the back.

Ricardo Clark: 4.5… Nearly invisible all evening, Clark’s usual presence in the defensive midfield was sorely missed, as the Mexican’s found far too much space and time to work in the American half.

Michael Bradley: 5… Like Clark, was nearly ineffective in the middle.  Bradley offered no distribution and once Feilhaber and Holden came on was eventually moved to a more defensive role, where he was equally absent from the play.

Clint Dempsey: 4… Dempsey’s inconsistency is becoming an issue with the national team.  Ultimately, he did nothing in the playmaking role he was meant to fill.

Landon Donovan: 6… Early on, showed signs of his fantastic form of late, most noticeably on his assist to Charlie Davies for the United States’ first goal.  However, as the match went on, Donovan became lost amongst the pitch, the trend for American personnel this certain Wednesday.... Recent reports indicate that Donovan was playing with swine flu.

Charlie Davies: 7… The lone offensive standout for the United States.  In trademark style, Davies harassed the Mexican defense with his pace and relentless work ethic.  He became only the fourth American to score on Mexican soil in the eighth minute and was only inches away from a second goal when his potential late-game equalizer was deemed offsides.

Brian Ching: 4… Gave Bob Bradley’s 4-4-2 more of a 4-4-1-1 look with the idea of holding the ball as a second striker, but ultimately could neither keep possession nor distribute.

Benny Feilhaber: 5… Found no space to work in the midfield after coming on as a second half substitute.  His only significant contribution to the game was his lunge on Mexican shithead Neri Castillo in the 74^th minute, which ultimately drew a yellow card.

Stuart Holden: 6.5… The Gold Cup star was easily Bob Bradley’s most effective substitute.  He provided a playmaking spark none of the first team regulars could and his brilliant, long, curling service from the right flank late in the second half almost connected with a diving Charlie Davies for a second half goal.

Jozy Altidore: 5... Thrust into the game for a cramping Charlie Davies with about a quarter of an hour to go, Altidore really couldn't get a touch on the ball.  He was physical with the Mexican defense, though, a presence that could have been used earlier on in the evening.