No goals, no revenge

All-MLS squad plays Mexico to scoreless draw in Houston

Mexico's Duilio Davino received a yellow card for this hard foul on Brian McBride. Brian Bahr/Getty Images

HOUSTON (AP) -- There was no revenge for Mexico on Thursday night.

Eleven months after the United States knocked the Mexicans out the World Cup, the teams played a scoreless tie in an exhibition game as both nations tested many of their younger players.

Mexico used just two players who started in the 2-0 second-round loss last June 17 in South Korea, and the Americans started just four. Both coaches said they achieved their main objective, which was to put players through the paces in advance of two major international tournaments this summer.

"Our match fitness was not ready for international play," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said, noting his all-MLS roster had been playing for only about a month. "In order for our players to compete at the international level, they must be fitter and sharper on the ball, as we saw today."

Arena deemed the first half "very poor," though he thought his squad made adjustments after intermission and played better.

Mexico's Tricolores, urged on by a majority of the sellout crowd of 69,582 at Reliant Stadium, nearly scored in the 73rd minute. Adolfo Bautista's bicycle kick went right into the hands of U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard.

2002 World Cup Flashback United States 2, Mexico 0  • Sports Illustrated: World class • Soccer America: How the U.S. frustrated Mexico • Analysis: Latest battle boils over • Loss to U.S. stuns soccer-mad Mexicans • U.S.-Mexico divides loyalties in border town • Match Summary and Commentary

The crowd was the largest ever to see a soccer game in Texas and the largest to watch the Americans at home since a February 1998 loss to Mexico in Los Angeles at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The United States, which played more conservatively, just missed a goal when Cobi Jones caught up with a ball on the far left side and rocketed a pass toward the penalty area. Midfielder Chris Klein headed the ball barely over the crossbar.

The U.S. team had a similar chance in the 68th minute, but Brian McBride couldn't quite catch up to a cross from substitute Bobby Convey. McBride, Landon Donovan, Eddie Pope and Pablo Mastroeni were the American starters who also began the World Cup game against the Mexicans.

McBride said he was ready for Convey's pass, but he gingerly pointed out that it hurtled past him at his midriff, eliminating a chance to head it or kick it.

"It was not so much my footing, it was more so where the ball was," McBride said.

Like Arena, Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe said he succeeded in getting a look at younger players as he prepares for matches that count. Despite that, he admitted he wanted something better than a draw.

"When you don't win you can't be satisfied," Lavolope said.

Mexico's best first-half chance came in the 24th minute. Arellano took a perfect give-and-go pass from Luis Perez and fired a shot from the right side of the penalty box straight to Howard, who was in position all night and recorded five saves. In all, Mexico outshot the United States 7-4.

The United States has held Mexico scoreless six of the last seven meetings, increasing its home shutout streak against its southern neighbors to 483 minutes.

Notes: The next U.S. national team game is May 26 at San Jose, Calif., against Wales. ... Jamaica's Peter Prendergast was the referee. In July 2000, he awarded a penalty kick that gave Costa Rica a victory over the United States in a World Cup semifinal-round qualifier. U.S. coach Bruce Arena and captain Claudio Reyna argued so strenuously over Prendergast's hand-ball call on Gregg Berhalter that they were suspended by FIFA.

UNITED STATES 0, MEXICO 0

Mexico       	0  0--0
United States	0  0--0

 

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