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3 takeaways from Mexico's dramatic, hex-halting win over the U.S.

Joe Maiorana / USA TODAY Sports

Uno a Dos.

Mexico quashed the Dos a Cero hoodoo at the United States' unofficial home of soccer Friday with a late 2-1 victory clinched by the head of veteran Rafa Marquez.

It was a closely fought, slightly tempestuous, and engaging World Cup qualifier which saw the rivals trade blows either side of the half through Miguel Layun and Bobby Wood.

The late second yellow brandished to Carlos Salcedo wasn't to matter after Marquez's moment, though, as the visitor clung on in the dying seconds to take the three points - leaving the U.S. with nothing to show for its much-improved performance in the second period.

Talk of Donald Trump's impending presidential reign undoubtedly pervaded the car parks and sparse drinking holes that surround the MAPFRE Stadium. Voting the former star of "The Apprentice" into the White House may not help political relations between these neighbours but, judging from the scenes in Columbus, Ohio, Americans and Mexicans will continue to get on fine in other walks of life.

Here are three takeaways from a fine advertisement of North American soccer:

El Profe masterminds best attacking showing

Under five months ago, Juan Carlos Osorio was clinging to his job after a 7-0 shoeing from Chile ousted Mexico from the Copa America Centenario at the quarterfinal stage.

But the country's federation stood firm, entrusting the Colombian with the development of an exciting young contingent and hoping to repair a damaging element of El Tri's mental makeup.

"People refer to many Mexican players as players with ability, but mental limits," Osorio confessed to ESPN FC's Tom Marshall earlier in the week.

With the guidance of South American guru Marcelo Bielsa, Osorio began creating real in-game scenarios in training, attempting to ensure meetings with the likes of Cuba didn't reduce competitiveness for tests against Chile and other genuine threats.

In the opening stanza, it looked to have worked, with the attacking quartet of Giovani dos Santos, Jesus Corona, Javier Hernandez, and Carlos Vela distorting the U.S.' defensive shape at will, loosening pockets of space that were then repeatedly infiltrated.

It was the best 45 minutes of forward forays that Osorio's overseen.

Jermaine Jones was hacking and should count himself lucky to not have received a caution from referee Walter Lopez as his ageing legs were exploited. In the enormous gulfs they were afforded by ill-disciplined positioning from centre-halves and the deep-lying midfielders, Osorio's players were 1-0 up at the interval.

Related - Watch: Layun crushes Dos a Cero curse with deflected dribbler

Considering that Corona and Vela also chipped paint off the woodwork in the first half, Klinsmann's side was fortunate to go in with that scoreline.

U.S. still a better team?

The United States was outclassed, but then came out after the break baying for blood despite the past failings stacked against it.

On paper, Mexico is simply a better team. Klinsmann has issues - namely, shallow areas in his squad - that Osorio doesn't have: Timmy Chandler and DeAndre Yedlin aren't the greatest options to pick from on the right-hand side of defence, and Jordan Morris' injury meant Jozy Altidore's striking partner was an off-color Bobby Wood.

But after near-anonymity from the Hamburg forward, he restored parity in Franklin County, benefiting from the drive of Altidore and the previously faultless Hector Moreno's toothless attempt at a tackle on 49 minutes.

Related - Watch: Wood draws U.S. level vs. Mexico thanks to Altidore industry

The U.S. pressed, suddenly remembering Mexico can be susceptible at the back, where the aged Marquez is charged with trying to keep things tight amid a forward-thinking XI.

Unfortunately for the host, that very man was its undoing. Does the United States have a better team? Probably not. But a spirited one that can expect progression to Russia in 2018? Certainly.

Battle-worn Marquez the hero

"The good thing about football is that it gives you revenge," Marquez explained to ESPN FC's Tom Marshall on Tuesday. "We've not done well here (in the past) and this is a new opportunity to trust in the group and the coach and get three important points."

Trust the ex-Barcelona stalwart to snatch the spoils for his country in the dying moments.

The Atlas captain helped comprise a pretty weak-looking defence ahead of kickoff, but proved a calming influence as Mexico staved off the States' second-half push.

At 37, it's remarkable that Marquez is still plugging away in the heart of El Tri, let alone ghosting in at the near post to bag a winner.

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