Bradley wondergoal helps U.S. earn draw away versus Mexico

MEXICO CITY -- Michael Bradley scored a stunning early goal from about 40 yards and the U.S. hung on for a 1-1 draw against Mexico in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday night, gaining only its third point in team history at Azteca Stadium as coach Bruce Arena changed seven starters and used a five-man defense to overcome the thin air and short recovery time.

Bradley put the U.S. ahead in the sixth minute when he deflected a poor backpass by Mexico star Javier Hernandez and created his own breakaway.

Carlos Vela tied the score in the 23rd minute with a shot from outside the penalty area that beat goalkeeper Brad Guzan to the near post, and Hector Herrera nearly put El Tri ahead in the 71st minute with a 30-yard free kick that bounced off the crossbar.

With its second draw in three road qualifiers, the U.S. continued to recover from its awful 0-2 start last fall and prompted chants of "U-S-A!" from the American Outlaws section in the upper deck.

"It's a shame to give away the goal that we did," Bradley said. "Any time you can get a point here it's great. ... Now we can move ourselves forward."

Mexico is atop the CONCACAF table in the Hexagonal phase of qualifying with 14 points, followed by Costa Rica (eight), the U.S. (eight), Panama (six), Honduras (four) and Trinidad and Tobago (three). The top three advance to next year's World Cup in Russia, and the fourth-place team faces Asia's No. 5 nation in a playoff.

Panama hosts Honduras on Tuesday, and Costa Rica is home against T&T.

"I feel good about where we are," Arena said. "We made up some lost ground."

Mexico was trying to sweep the Americans in a qualifying cycle for the first time since 1972. The U.S. was 0-19-1 in Mexico City -- getting outscored 81-14 -- before a 1-0 exhibition win in 2012. The U.S. held Mexico to 0-0 in qualifiers at Azteca in 1997 and 2013.

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With Estadio Azteca at 7,820 feet above sea level and only two off days between games, Arena paid close attention to recovery time and tested his roster's depth. On Saturday, he thought about making as many as nine changes. He decided on the five-man backline as early as January.

Bradley, one of only four holdovers in the U.S. starting lineup from Thursday night's 2-0 home win over Trinidad, stunned the boisterous crowd of about 81,000. Hector Moreno passed to Hernandez, who passed back for Herrera in the center circle.

Reading the play, Bradley quickly stepped up and knocked the ball toward Mexico's goal. Bradley then sprinted to catch up with the ball, and when he reached it lofted a right-footed shot from about 40 yards over goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa's outstretched left arm and under the crossbar.

An exuberant Bradley ran to the endline and raised the badge on his jersey to the several thousand red-white-and-blue-clad fans.

He became only the sixth American to score at Azteca, joining Michael Orozco (2012), Charlie Davies (2009), Eddie Lewis (2005), Ricky Davis (1980) and Willy Roy (1972).

Bobby Wood failed to knock one into an open shot from close range that could have made it 2-0, and Vela immediately scored on a counter-attack. Ochoa made a long outlet throw to Hernandez, who passed to Vela on the right flank. He dribbled around DaMarcus Beasley and across the top of the penalty area, and his shot from the arc beat Guzan.

Fans booed and whistled "The Star-Spangled Banner," as usual when the Americans play in Mexico, and there was an occasional T-shirt disparaging U.S. President Donald Trump, as a downpour began during second-half injury time.

Guzan took over in goal from Tim Howard, and Beasley, Tim Ream and Omar Gonzalez joined the back line in a 5-4-1 formation. Kellyn Acosta and Paul Arriola were in midfield and Wood at forward. In addition to Bradley, 18-year-old midfielder Christian Pulisic remained in the lineup along with right back DeAndre Yedlin and center back Geoff Cameron.

Beasley, at 35, became the first American to appear in qualifiers of five World Cup cycles. He had not started for the U.S. since the October 2015 loss to Mexico in a playoff for a Confederations Cup berth.

Bradley said he was encouraged by the Americans' progress under Arena.

"Look, we were pretty honest with ourselves and we had let a lot of little things drop," he said.