In the 65th minute of tonight’s “friendly” between the USMNT and Mexico in Nashville, U.S. defender Matt Miazga triggered six minutes of absolute bedlam after finally getting the better of 18-year-old Mexican phenom Diego Lainez. The diminutive (5 ft 5.5 in) Club America winger was probably the highlight of an otherwise tame first half.
He absolutely diced U.S. captain Wil Trapp and feasted on him at one point. It was frightening.
36' ¡Dieeeeego Lainez volvió locos a todos!
¿Es el jugador 'diferente' que necesita?0-0
Lo mejor del juego https://t.co/ygXVYPFYc8 pic.twitter.com/3zGd94BjD9— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) September 12, 2018
But in the 65th minute, Miazga took the ball off Lainez before being fouled by the reported AS Roma target. The Nantes defender took exception and began relentlessly reminding Lainez of his height. Miazga (6 ft 4 in) made the universal “you’re short” motion like six or seven times, until Edson Alvarez told him that’s enough.
65' El juego se ENCENDIÓ
Miazga Lainez y el mexicano remata con un: "No sabes jugar"0-0
Lo mejor del juego https://t.co/ygXVYPFYc8 pic.twitter.com/dFaXf4NY1I— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) September 12, 2018
Two minutes later, Mexico striker Angel Zaldivar was given a straight red card for doing his own bit of dicing on Trapp.
#Mexico go down to 10 men. Ángel Zaldívar given a straight red card for a clumsy over the ball tackle on Wil Trapp.#USAvMEX #USMNT #ElTri pic.twitter.com/Zm4ekL0Csc
— #ThankYouDeuce (@JogaBonito_USA) September 12, 2018
And four minutes after that, a game that had been largely edged by Mexico was completely turned on its head after Tyler Adams converted from Antonee Robinson’s low cross.
TYLER ADAMS SCORES HIS FIRST FOR #USMNT!!!@ussoccer_mnt | #RBNY pic.twitter.com/KeLhrhbmzL
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) September 12, 2018
A game decided by mocking someone's height. What a time to be alive.