Posted: Friday June 14, 2002 4:08 PM
Updated: Tuesday May 13, 2003 6:10 PM
U.S. defender Alexi Lalas received a kick to the groin from Mexico in the 1997 U.S. Cup, sparking one of the many scuffles in the teams' heated rivalry. Elsa HaschAP/REUT
The United States and Mexico are no strangers to one another on the pitch. The rivalry among the two CONCACAF nations has grown in recent years, providing several memorable moments and matches, including last June's 2-0 World Cup victory by the U.S. Following is an overview of the matchup, including a summary of the nine meetings during U.S. head coach Bruce Arena's tenure.
Series Notes
Mexico leads the all-time series with a 28-10-10 record, outscoring the U.S. 109-52. The U.S. leads 2-1-1 in matches played at neutral sites.
The U.S. won the first meeting, 4-2, on May 24, 1934, in Rome with four goals by Aldo "Buff" Donelli. The match in Italy was classified as a World Cup qualifier. Donelli's four goals ties him with Archie Stark (Nov. 8, 1925, vs. Canada) and Joe-Max Moore (Dec. 5, 1993, vs. El Salvador) for the U.S. record for most goals in a match.
Mexico went undefeated against the U.S. over the next 46 years, with 21 wins and three draws. Included in that stretch were lopsided scores such as 6-0 in 1949 and 1957 and 7-2 in 1937 and 1957.
The U.S. finally broke the streak on Nov. 23, 1980, with a 2-1 win in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Steve Moyers scored both U.S. goals.
Since 1980, U.S. has posted a 9-8-7 record in the series and has won five of the seven matches played since 2000. The U.S. outscored Mexico by a total of 10-1 in those five matches.
Mexico has not scored more than two goals against the U.S. since a 4-0 win on July 25, 1993, at Mexico City. The U.S. has scored three or more goals in five of the 47 meetings between the two sides -- most recently in a 3-0 win on June 11, 2000, at Giants Stadium in the U.S. Cup final.
U.S. vs. Mexico -- 1999-2002
Soccer matches between Mexico and the United States played during the tenure of U.S. head coach Bruce Arena.
Mexico leads the all-time series with a 28-10-10 record, outscoring the U.S. 109-52. The U.S. leads 2-1-1 in matches played at neutral sites.
The U.S. won the first meeting, 4-2, on May 24, 1934, in Rome with four goals by Aldo "Buff" Donelli. The match in Italy was classified as a World Cup qualifier. Donelli's four goals ties him with Archie Stark (Nov. 8, 1925, vs. Canada) and Joe-Max Moore (Dec. 5, 1993, vs. El Salvador) for the U.S. record for most goals in a match.
