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U.S. wins 'Cold War' Mexico falls 2-0 to open World Cup qualifying finals
Updated: Monday March 05, 2001 12:24 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- As it was outside, so it began on the pitch at Crew Stadium Wednesday night. The United States and Mexico were stiff and cold for more than half of their World Cup qualifier until Josh Wolff broke the ice with a dazzling individual play to net the Americans a vital 2-0 win and three points in their first match of the "Hexagonal." It was the Americans' third straight win against Mexico, a first in the rivalry, and the first time since 1980 the U.S. team beat Mexico in a qualifier. It was achieved greatly because the United States exhibited rare depth. After losing forward Brian McBride and midfielder Claudio Reyna to injury in a mediocre first-half performance, the Americans were sparked by their replacements -- Wolff, who turned 24 on Sunday, and Mathis, also 24. "We obviously faced a lot of adversity having to make a couple of changes," coach Bruce Arena said. "I am real proud of the way our team pulled together at halftime and did the job in the second half to get the victory." Before a sold-out, flag-waving, "U-S-A" chanting crowd of 24,624 in the chill of Columbus, Mexico played well for 45 minutes. "It was a great atmosphere, everyone on the bench felt it, a real home-field advantage," defender Jeff Agoos said. "I think this is a big step for [American] soccer in general." Earlier Wednesday, Jamaica opened the competition, which continues throughout the year, with a 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in Kingston. Costa Rica tied Honduras 2-2, leaving the United States in first place on goal difference. The hexagonal is a round-robin, six-team CONCACAF qualifying tournament with the top three teams progressing to the 2002 World Cup in Japan-Korea. Wolff, who replaced the injured Brian McBride in the 15th minute, struck right after halftime. Collecting a long pass out of the back from Clint Mathis in the 47th minute, Wolff found himself behind the Mexican line and face-to-face with a surging Jorge Campos, well outside of his area.
Campos, normally so cool in such situations, appeared to misjudge the ball at his feet and, suddenly, Wolff had spun past him and had an open path to the net. The Mexican defense could do little but chase helplessly as Wolff buried it. "I wasn't sure if he was able to get to it, he might have hesitated a bit," Wolff said of Campos. "I was able to touch the ball and scoot it past him." Joe-Max Moore nearly added another three minutes later as he found himself with space inside the box, but German Villa made a lunging tackle to save the play. Earnie Stewart added the icing to the cake in the 88th minute when Wolff beat a defender in the corner, raced along the goal line and laid the ball back for a picture-perfect strike from 10 yards. "Wolff was terrific," Arena said. "He really pulled it off at the end of the game. It's not that we had to get him in the game, but we thought Josh's speed would be a factor and he was able to get behind the defense." The goals enlivened what had been a soporific event. Neither side was able to get off a shot until the 35th minute, and the teams seemed equally matched in their inertia. Early on, it looked as if it might be a star-crossed night for the Yanks. Key target man McBride was forced to leave in the 12th minute after coming away with a swollen right eye in an inadvertent clash of heads, removing the United States' most powerful forward. The U.S. lost another key member in Claudio Reyna some 15 minutes later, when the captain appeared to strain his left groin muscle. He struggled throughout the first half and ultimately was replaced by Mathis. In retrospect, the latter injury proved something of a blessing as Mathis energized the American lineup, leading Moore and Wolff in surprisingly effective fashion on several forays toward Campos' net. Mexico, struggling in recent matches, challenged the Americans late in the match, with Francisco Palencia forcing Brad Friedel to make a dazzling stop in the 71st minute. Palencia, who teamed effectively with the Mexicans' most dangerous player, the Los Angeles Galaxy's Luis Hernandez, exploited the space vacated by David Regis and Jeff Agoos to take a clear shot from just wide of the spot.
It would be one of few such mistakes in the back for the Americans as the team of Tony Sanneh, Eddie Pope, Regis and Agoos combined to effectively negate the Mexican crossing attack. Regis looked especially good in the left back position, crossing the ball well into space and shutting down Hernandez when he entered the area. "It was a good win," said U.S. defensive midfielder Chris Armas. "We set out to get three points and that's what we accomplished." A shoving match broke out in the U.S. end moments later, with even Campos coming all the way downfield to join the melee. But nothing developed from it, and Mexico went off meekly with its fifth loss in the last six internationals. "Unfortunately, we didn't come away with the result we wanted," Mexico coach Enrique Meza said, "but I know the players worked hard and they put in a tremendous effort."
The Mexicans could protest all they wanted that the cold would not affect them, but they didn't bother to come out for pregame warmups. By the time the visitors took the field, the temperature was 29 degrees and one of their fans held up a sign saying: "Next Time, Pick Alaska." Many of the shivering American fans were wrapped in U.S. flags. Others held up red, white and blue streamers that fluttered in the icy wind. Even coach Bruce Arena is careful not to read too much into this one, this game that actually went according to the script. "We've got nine tough games ahead of us," he said afterwards, "and this is one win." In addition to the injuries suffered by McBride and Reyna, Tony Sanneh dislocated a bone in his left foot defending against Hernandez in the penalty box. Said Sanneh of his injury, "I went for the ball, but Freidel yelled for the 'keeper, so all I wanted to do was hold Hernandez off. He kicked me, and the ref said he didn't call a foul because the 'keeper had the ball and we had the advantage. Later on, he punched me in the face, but that's just the way he plays."
Notes: A representative for U.S. forward Landon Donovan met Wednesday morning with officials from Major League Soccer and Bayer Leverkusen to discuss the 18-year-old's potential move to MLS from Germany, according to a report from Soccer America. "We have had some meaningful discussions and there will be more meaningful discussions," said MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis. "We're not talking about a loan. We're talking about a long-term solution... Just because it isn't a loan doesn't mean it's a transfer. There are a few areas in-between that we're exploring."... The last time the United States won a qualifier against Mexico was Nov. 23, 1980 ... The Americans had 20 fouls, including 13 in the first half ... The Americans play Brazil in an exhibition game Saturday in the Rose Bowl, and travel to Honduras on March 28 for their next qualifier ... Mexico's next qualifier is at home vs. Jamaica. SummaryScoring: First half-None. Second half-1, United States, Josh Wolff (Mathis), 47th minute. 2, United States, Earnie Stewart (Wolff), 87th minute. Yellow Cards-Marquez, Mex, 36th; Wolff, US, 40th; Villa, Mex, 56th. United States, Wolff (40). Red Cards-None. Referee-Rodolfo Sibrian, El Salvador. Linesmen-Vladimir Fernandez, El Salvador, Raul Cardona, El Salvador. --- Lineups: Mexico-Jorge Campos; Claudio Suarez, Rafael Marquez (Victor Ruiz 69th), Salvador Carmona (Miguel Zepeda 56th), Alberto Macias; Marco A. Ruiz, Pavel Pardo, German Villa, Braulio Luna (Jesus Arellano 75th); Luis Hernandez, Francisco Palencia. United States-Brad Friedel; Eddie Pope, David Regis, Tony Sanneh, Jeff Agoos; Chris Armas, Claudio Reyna (Clint Mathis 43rd), Cobi Jones, Earnie Stewart; Joe-Max Moore (Carlos Llamosa 79th), Brian McBride (Josh Wolff 15th).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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