Mexico stops 7-game winless streak against the US as Jiménez and Huerta score in 2-0 victory

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Raúl Jiménez scored on a 22nd-minute free kick and set up César Huerta's goal in the 49th as Mexico stopped a seven-game winless streak against the United States with a 2-0 victory on Tuesday night in Mauricio Pochettino's second game as the American coach.

Mexico had five losses and two draws against the U.S. dating to a 3-0 win in September 2019 at East Rutherford, New Jersey.

With nearly a dozen regular players missing that included Christian Pulisic, the U.S. failed to have any first-half shots for the first time since an April 2023 exhibition against El Tri that ended 1-1.

American players not at the game included defenders Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards and Cameron Carter-Vickers; midfielders Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Luca de la Torre; and attackers Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna and Ricardo Pepi.

Defender Mark McKenzie was in the original starting lineup but because of soreness in his left groin was replaced by Miles Robinson just before kickoff.

"Overall Mexico was a little bit better and fully deserve the victory," Pochettino said. "For us it is a process. It was a great opportunity for our players to visit a very difficult place to play. We can only improve and learn from this experience.”

Jiménez curled a 25-yard-plus shot past Matt Turner for his 34th international international goal. Jiménez created the second goal after he ran onto a through pass, had Tim Ream knock the ball away, they regained possession from the defender and centered to Huerta.

Huerta slid around Robinson and beat Turner from near the penalty spot for his third international goal.

Pochettino, hired last month to replace Gregg Berhalter, led the Americans to a 2-0 win over Panama in his debut Saturday.

His first competitive matches will be next month in a two-leg CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal, likely against Jamaica. After that, Pochettino has just six international windows before players report ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

“We need to play more games like this in order to compete,” Pochettino said.

Javier Aguirre won his second game since replacing Jaime Lozano as Mexico coach in August. El Tri was coming of a 2-2 draw against the Spanish club Valencia last weekend.

“I think that the team was aware of the bad performance in Puebla, they wanted to prove themselves that they were capable of playing better,” Aguirre said.

Fans at Akron Stadium yelled the homophobic chant that led to fines imposed by FIFA, but Costa Rican referee Keylor Herrera did not stop the game.

Andrés Guardado started in his 182nd international match and left to a loud ovation in the 19th minute of what he said was his national team finale at age 38. He was greeted by every member of the team.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Mexico's Andrés Guardado leaves the pitch after being substituted during an international friendly soccer match against the United States at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

The United States' Antonee Robinson, left, heads the ball past Mexico's Raúl Jiménez during an international friendly soccer match at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Mexico's Raúl Jiménez, right, is congratulated by Edson Álvarez after scoring his side's opening goal against the United States during an international friendly soccer match at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Mexico's Raúl Jiménez, left, kicks the ball past the United States' Joe Scally during an international friendly soccer match at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

The United States' Joe Scally, left, falls over challenged by Mexico's César Huerta during an international friendly soccer match at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Mexico's Raúl Jiménez, in light-blue cleats, is congratulated after scoring his side's opening goal against the United States during an international friendly soccer match at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Mexico's Raúl Jiménez, right, celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against the United States during an international friendly soccer match at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The world’s second Sphere is planned to be built in the capital of the United Arab Emirates after the opening of the first giant dome entertainment complex in Las Vegas.

Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism and Sphere Entertainment Co. announced the plan late Tuesday to bring a Sphere to the Middle East.

Under the deal, Abu Dhabi will pay a franchise fee to Sphere Entertainment to build the second location using its designs. Abu Dhabi's government will pay to build the structure, as well as annual fees to Sphere Entertainment “for creative and artistic content.”

The announcement offered no financing information, nor did it say where the Sphere would be built in the Emirati capital. Abu Dhabi's government did not immediately respond to questions about the project Wednesday. Sphere declined to comment beyond the initial announcement.

The massive $2.3 billion Las Vegas Sphere opened in 2023 as the gambling capital's most expensive entertainment venue. A high-resolution LED screen wraps halfway around the 17,500-seat audience. It has hosted concerts and sporting events inside the world’s largest spherical structure standing at 366 feet (111 meters) tall and 516 feet (157 meters) wide.

However, efforts to build a second Sphere abroad have been choppy. London Mayor Sadiq Khan rejected a plan to build one in the city's east over multiple concerns last year, including light pollution.

Abu Dhabi has been trying to differentiate itself as a travel destination from neighboring Dubai in the UAE, an energy-rich federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula.

The UAE is also preparing to open the first casino in the country. While the only one currently under construction is in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, other sheikhdoms in the country are believed to be actively considering having their own.

Sphere is the brainchild of James Dolan, the executive chair of Madison Square Garden and the owner of the New York Knicks and Rangers.

Stock in Sphere closed more than 6% higher Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange to $48.91 a share. That's a major boost after Benchmark last month downgraded Sphere Entertainment to “sell” over “concerns over the Sphere’s "scalability, high production costs and a potentially underwhelming profitability outlook.”

Meanwhile, some projects in the UAE have failed to be built or been delayed for years after being announced in economic downturns.

Trademark filings show Sphere Entertainment Co. trademark filings made as well in Japan, Oman and Qatar, though there's no announced plans for similar venues. Companies often protectively trademark their names in other markets without necessarily having business there.

FILE - Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, drives past the Sphere during the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix auto race, on Nov. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Nick Didlick, File)