Chelsea defender Matt Miazga has defended his winding up of Mexico attacker Diego Lainez during the USA's win yesterday.

Miazga made fun of Lainez's short stature in a bust-up - and says the actions worked.

On-loan at Nantes, the USA defender said: "That is normal and belongs in the game. A piece of mental warfare. We managed to crawl into their heads and they got a red card. After that, everyone could see what happened. We gained control of the game and won."

Meanwhile, Lainez, of Club America, insisted there was no reason for the incident to be blown up.

"Such things happen in football. It was nothing. It is part of it," he shrugged.