Mexico 2, USA 1 (gasp!)


This battle for dominance in the Caribbean, Central and North American soccer confederation (Concacaf) has become a great rivalry. Mexico parlayed home field advantage - and a smog-choked, high-altitude, hostile-crowd advantage it was - into a deserved 2-1 victory.

Both teams began promisingly enough in the packed Estadio Azteca in the southern part of Mexico City. The U.S. had been training at altitude in Colorado to try to approximate the conditions they would face in teeming Mexico City. Good luck. The altitude is only part of the atmosphere, literally, since smog levels at this time of year are very high and the enviroment is hostile in other ways as well. Nevertheless, it is great to see a packed house of over 100,000 fans, singing and chanting. There is bad blood, of course, since the U.S. knocked Mexico out of the last World Cup, and there is talk in Mexico of revenge. This rivalry is becoming a major one in world football.
Blanco, the tempermental genius of Mexican futbol, feeds Borgetti early, the ball squirts loose, and the U.S. clear. Mexico has some good possession in the first 10 minutes, but the U.S. defense looks confident. Mexico is probing up the middle, but they are getting caught offsides frequently. Blanco is playing well, but strike-mates Borgetti and Fonseca are quiet in the opening 15.
In the 20th minute, however, Borgetti gets his head to a cross and Keller is lucky it goes over, as he's a little off his line. Blanco comes close to losing his temper, especially after a bad offsides call against him. Hot-headedly, he goes in strong on Cherundolo, who makes a meal of the fall, and convinces the ref to give Blanco a yellow. Smart diving by the U.S. defender, I say.
In the 30th minute, Fonseca dances down the right side of the box, crosses to the far post, where another attacker heads back to an almost unmarked Borgetti, who heads home a rifle-shot for the first goal. Onyewu, a young and untried U.S. defender, took his eyes off his man for just a moment and payed the price.
Just two minutes later, the crowd explodes when Borgetti and a trailer race down the right onto a great long ball from Blanco, I think. Berhalter and Onyewu stay with the pair of attackers, who cross perfectly to an unmarked Zinha, who slots a shot into goal for a quick 2-0.
The U.S. game breaks down through the first part of the second half, especially on defense. The tide turn in the 52nd minute, when a counter-attack forces a strong save from El conejo Sanchez. In the 59th, Eddie Lewis scores after a series of nice short passes in the Mexico box. The U.S. is energized following the goal, finally using its speed and stringing short passes together to threaten. Mexico is not relaxing too much, as Medina replaces Borgetti and exposes a weakness in the left side of the U.S. defense. Keller's big saves in the 75th and 79th minutes keep the U.S. in the game, but ultimately to no avail. Final score, 2-1 Mexico.
The hostility in the crowd is excessive. One crowd shot in the Telemundo coverage I watched showed a Mexican fan holding a sign taunting "Remember the twin towers" in Spanish. There were reports after the game of people in the crowd throwing things at the U.S. players. This is ridiculous, and the authorities need to step in and do something. It diminishes the game for everyone.

Posted: Mon - March 28, 2005 at 12:23 AM          

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